Since October, France has been in talks with Ukraine regarding rare earth metals, according to Defense Minister Lecornu.

France has been negotiating with Ukraine since October regarding the development of Ukrainian mineral resources for the needs of the French defense industry.

This was stated by Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu on Thursday, February 27, during a broadcast on FRANCEINFO.

According to the minister, during his visit to France last fall, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky proposed to consider this aspect within his "Victory Plan."

Ukrainian President made "a series of proposals not only to the United States but also to France," the minister reported.

“Zelensky and his team saw that this issue of raw materials could be one of the elements of cooperation with us to create lasting support. Therefore, President Trump did not completely invent this, as it was initiated by the Ukrainians themselves,” emphasized the minister.

Lecornu noted that the French defense industry requires a certain amount of “very key raw material resources for our own weapon systems, not only for next year but for the next 30 or 40 years.”

“France needs to diversify its imports of this type of metals. This is what [President] Emmanuel Macron asked me to do, particularly to discuss with the Ukrainians,” said Lecornu.

He also added that economic issues are inextricably linked to military and strategic interests, particularly in the energy sector.

“Whether we want it or not, economic issues are always intertwined with military, strategic, or security matters. In any case, this is especially true for energy,” noted Lecornu.

The statement came at a time when Kyiv and Washington were nearing the signing of an agreement regarding the exploitation of Ukraine's mineral resources amid the standoff between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky.

Ukrainian President hopes to travel to Washington on Friday to discuss the text and try to learn more about the continuation of American aid.

Background. Zelensky confirmed that he would meet with U.S. President Donald Trump on February 28.

“Our teams are working with America; we are preparing for negotiations this Friday. The agreement with America. Support for our state and people. Guarantees of peace and security are the key to preventing Russia from further destroying the lives of other nations. I will meet with President Trump,” said Zelensky.