As Donald Trump prepares to return to the White House, Kyiv is actively looking for ways to convince him to support Ukraine. Given his ambiguous position, Ukrainian politicians and experts are trying to reformulate their proposal in terms close to Trump's rhetoric: from the slogan "Make America Great Again" to the economic benefits of cooperation with Ukraine.
Ukraine is positioning itself not only as a country in need of assistance, but also as an important partner capable of strengthening the US position in the world. As MP Volodymyr Ariev noted, protecting Ukraine is key to preserving the US image as a global security guarantor.
“Supporting Ukraine is not charity. It is a strategic interest that helps the US remain a leader in global security,” Ukrainian diplomats emphasize.
Ukraine is also focusing on its natural resources, including deposits of lithium, a metal needed to make batteries and microchips. Volodymyr Vasyuk, an industry expert, said Ukraine could become an important partner for the Western world in high-tech.
“Control over lithium is control over the economy of the future. For the US, this is a chance to gain access to strategically important resources that are better left in the hands of a friendly country than allowed to go to Russia,” Vasyuk said.
Ukraine is not only counting on the support of the Trump administration, but is also seeking allies among its supporters. Senator Lindsey Graham has already highlighted Ukraine's economic potential, calling it a source of rare earth minerals worth trillions of dollars.
Arguments in favor of cooperation with Ukraine may even interest Elon Musk, who has been criticized for his anti-Ukrainian statements. The lithium issue, according to American analysts, could be the key to establishing a dialogue with him and other skeptics.
