Trump proposes U.S. control of Ukraine's lithium reserves to boost American interests

Elon Musk's businesses rely heavily on lithium, a key mineral for batteries. He is building a $1 billion lithium refinery in Texas, which may use up to eight million gallons of water daily in a drought-prone area. Ukraine has significant lithium reserves, estimated at 500,000 metric tons. Donald Trump’s proposal for a $500 billion payback from Ukraine includes U.S. control over half of the country's critical minerals, which he claims would benefit American interests. Trump's plan would allow the U.S. to take 50% of revenues from lithium extraction in Ukraine. This proposal follows discussions between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky about sharing mineral resources to strengthen U.S.-Ukraine ties against Russia.