MOSCOW, February 25. /TASS/. The real value and profitability of mineral resources in Ukraine is much lower than the $500 bln the US is seeking as compensation in the deal offered to Ukraine, the Roscongress Foundation said in an assessment of Ukraine’s mineral resources.
The bulk of the most profitable deposits lies in Russia-controlled territory that Kiev has lost, Roscongress said. Furthermore, the current situation in the global market and the technical condition of the Ukrainian resource base complicate the use of the mineral ore in the compensation mechanism. "The majority of strategic deposits requires significant investments and is as yet untapped," the review indicates.
The Ukrainian mineral and resource base is rather diverse in general but the total value of accessible resources has never been estimated appropriately, the review highlights. Rare-earth metals are one of key points in the potential deal between Ukraine and the United States, Roscongress noted. Meanwhile, the US Geological Survey does not include Ukraine into the list of countries with significant reserves of rare-earth metals, the foundation added.