Ukraine has offered to strike a deal with U.S. President Donald Trump for continued American military aid in exchange for developing Ukraine’s mineral industry, which could provide a valuable source of the rare earth elements that are essential for many kinds of technology.

“The chances of them getting their nuclear weapons back are somewhere between slim and zero,” responded Keith Kellogg, Trump’s special envoy for negotiations with Ukraine and Russia, in an interview with Fox.

As the Trump administration publicly hammers out its plans on the Ukraine war, it's also pressing Ukraine for deals in exchange for more aid — including giving the U.S. mining rights for rare earths.

Washington will provide Ukraine with a post-war “security shield” if Kyiv hands over rare earth minerals, Donald Trump’s transport secretary has said.