عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
World

Russia, US Discussing Rare Earth Metals Projects, Putin Envoy Says

Direct Investment Fund CEO Kirill Dmitriev (C) and VTB Bank President and Chairman of the Management Board Andrey Kostin (R) attend a meeting held by Russian President Vladimir Putin on the development of the Russia's Arctic zone and the Arctic transport corridor, in Murmansk, Russia, 27 March 2025. (EPA / Sputnik / Kremlin)
Direct Investment Fund CEO Kirill Dmitriev (C) and VTB Bank President and Chairman of the Management Board Andrey Kostin (R) attend a meeting held by Russian President Vladimir Putin on the development of the Russia's Arctic zone and the Arctic transport corridor, in Murmansk, Russia, 27 March 2025. (EPA / Sputnik / Kremlin)
TT
TT

Russia, US Discussing Rare Earth Metals Projects, Putin Envoy Says

Direct Investment Fund CEO Kirill Dmitriev (C) and VTB Bank President and Chairman of the Management Board Andrey Kostin (R) attend a meeting held by Russian President Vladimir Putin on the development of the Russia's Arctic zone and the Arctic transport corridor, in Murmansk, Russia, 27 March 2025. (EPA / Sputnik / Kremlin)
Direct Investment Fund CEO Kirill Dmitriev (C) and VTB Bank President and Chairman of the Management Board Andrey Kostin (R) attend a meeting held by Russian President Vladimir Putin on the development of the Russia's Arctic zone and the Arctic transport corridor, in Murmansk, Russia, 27 March 2025. (EPA / Sputnik / Kremlin)

Russia and the United States have started talks on joint rare earth metals and other projects in Russia, and some companies have already expressed an interest in them, President Vladimir Putin's investment envoy said in remarks published on Monday.

Amid efforts by US President Donald Trump to end the war in Ukraine, minerals cooperation has been floated by both Kyiv and Moscow, though Trump said on Sunday that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy wants to back out of a proposed deal.

Putin in February suggested that the United States might be interested in exploring joint exploration for rare earth metals deposits in Russia, which has the world's fifth-largest reserves of the metals used in lasers and military equipment.

Kirill Dmitriev, Kremlin special envoy on international economic and investment cooperation, told the Izvestia newspaper in remarks published on Monday that talks had already begun.

"Rare earth metals are an important area for cooperation, and, of course, we have begun discussions on various rare earth metals and (other) projects in Russia," said Kirill Dmitriev, who is also the CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund.

Dmitriev, who was part of Russia's negotiating team at talks with US officials in Saudi Arabia in February, said some companies have already shown interest in the projects. He did not name any companies and did not reveal further details.

Trump said on Sunday he was "pissed off" at Putin and will impose secondary tariffs of 25% to 50% on buyers of Russian oil if he feels Moscow is blocking his efforts to end the war in Ukraine.

Trump told NBC News he was very angry after Putin last week criticized the credibility of Zelenskiy's leadership, the television network reported. Trump later reiterated to reporters he was disappointed with Putin but added: "I think we are making progress, step by step."

China's control of 95% of global production and supplies of rare earth metals, crucial for industries such as defense and consumer electronics, has focused the rest of the world on trying to develop their own supplies.

The US Geological Survey estimates Russia's reserves of rare earth metals at 3.8 million metric tons but Moscow has far higher estimates.

According to the Natural Resources Ministry, Russia has reserves of 15 rare earth metals totaling 28.7 million tons as of January 1, 2023 and that 3.8 million tons is the amount of reserves under development or ready for development.

Izvestia reported the cooperation may be further discussed at the next round of Russia-US talks that may take place in mid-April.

Most Viewed

 
 
World

France's Macron: Unity between Europe and US on Ukraine is ‘Essential'

French President Emmanuel Macron. (AFP file)
French President Emmanuel Macron. (AFP file)
TT
TT

France's Macron: Unity between Europe and US on Ukraine is ‘Essential'

French President Emmanuel Macron. (AFP file)
French President Emmanuel Macron. (AFP file)

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Friday that unity between Europe and the United States was key in the support of Ukraine, adding there is "no mistrust" and denying a report he had said there was a risk Washington could betray Ukraine.

"Unity between Americans and Europeans on the Ukrainian issue is essential. And I say it again and again, we need to work together," Macron told reporters during a visit to China.

"We welcome and support the peace efforts being made by the United States of America. The United States of America needs Europeans to lead these peace efforts," he added.

German magazine Spiegel on Thursday cited a transcript of a confidential call showing the French President and German Chancellor have voiced severe skepticism about efforts by the US government and its envoys to negotiate a peace between Ukraine and Russia.

"I deny everything," Macron said, when asked about the Spiegel report. "We need the United States for peace. The United States need us for this peace to be lasting and robust."

"So there's no scenario where a lasting peace in Ukraine is done without joint efforts between the Europeans, the Americans, the Canadians, the Australians and the Japanese," he said.

World

Greek Parliament Approves Purchase of Rocket Systems from Israel

A PULS multiple rocket launcher miniature and artillery rockets by Israeli Elbit Systems is exhibited at the DEFEA Defense Exhibition, in Athens, Greece, May 8, 2025. REUTERS/Louiza Vradi Purchase Licensing Rights
A PULS multiple rocket launcher miniature and artillery rockets by Israeli Elbit Systems is exhibited at the DEFEA Defense Exhibition, in Athens, Greece, May 8, 2025. REUTERS/Louiza Vradi Purchase Licensing Rights
TT
TT

Greek Parliament Approves Purchase of Rocket Systems from Israel

A PULS multiple rocket launcher miniature and artillery rockets by Israeli Elbit Systems is exhibited at the DEFEA Defense Exhibition, in Athens, Greece, May 8, 2025. REUTERS/Louiza Vradi Purchase Licensing Rights
A PULS multiple rocket launcher miniature and artillery rockets by Israeli Elbit Systems is exhibited at the DEFEA Defense Exhibition, in Athens, Greece, May 8, 2025. REUTERS/Louiza Vradi Purchase Licensing Rights

Greek lawmakers approved late on Thursday the purchase of 36 PULS rocket artillery systems from Israel for about 650 million euros ($757.84 million), two officials with knowledge of the issue told Reuters.

Greece has said it will spend about 28 billion euros ($32.66 billion) by 2036 to modernize its armed forces as it emerges from a 2009-2018 debt crisis and tries to keep pace with its historic rival Türkiye.

"In a closed session, the parliament's defense committee approved the purchase of PULS," a senior official with knowledge of the issue told Reuters. A second official confirmed the parliament's approval, adding that the cost would be around 650 to 700 million euros. Reuters reported in November that Greece was in talks with Israel for the systems.

Greece and Israel have strong economic and diplomatic ties, have conducted several joint exercises in recent years, and operate an air training center in southern Greece.

Greece is also in talks with Israel to develop a 3 billion euro anti-aircraft and missile defense dome.

The PULS system, made by Israel's Elbit, has a range of up to 300 km (190 miles) and will help protect Greece's northeastern border with Türkiye and Greek islands in the Aegean, officials have said. The deal also includes the construction of components in Greece.

Greece and Türkiye, NATO allies, have long been at odds over issues including where their continental shelves start and end, energy resources, flights over the Aegean, and the ethnically partitioned island of Cyprus.

World

Flooding Kills Two as Vietnam Hit by Dozens of Landslides

Deadly flooding inundated thousands of homes in Vietnam's Lam Dong province in what authorities say is a record-breaking year of natural disasters. Quoc Nguyen / AFP
Deadly flooding inundated thousands of homes in Vietnam's Lam Dong province in what authorities say is a record-breaking year of natural disasters. Quoc Nguyen / AFP
TT
TT

Flooding Kills Two as Vietnam Hit by Dozens of Landslides

Deadly flooding inundated thousands of homes in Vietnam's Lam Dong province in what authorities say is a record-breaking year of natural disasters. Quoc Nguyen / AFP
Deadly flooding inundated thousands of homes in Vietnam's Lam Dong province in what authorities say is a record-breaking year of natural disasters. Quoc Nguyen / AFP

Heavy rain in Vietnam triggered flooding that killed at least two people and caused more than a dozen landslides, state media said Friday, adding to what authorities called the "most unusual" year of natural disasters in the country's history.

South-central Vietnam has been lashed by weeks of heavy rain, submerging hundreds of thousands of homes in coastal tourism hotspots and causing deadly landslides in mountainous regions.

Downpours inundated thousands more homes in Lam Dong province on Thursday and killed at least two people, the Voice of Vietnam news outlet reported.

It added that 16 landslides struck the province, damaging roads and bridges and forcing the evacuation of hundreds of homes.

Floodwaters up to two meters deep were still sloshing through Ham Thang commune in Lam Dong on Friday, resident Pham Thi Ngoc Yen told AFP, adding authorities were delivering food and water by boat.

"Our province has always been very safe from floods or typhoons. This year was so weird," she said.

"I hope that the water will recede a lot in the next two days so that our life can get back to normal."

Record year

"2025 has been the year with the most unusual natural disasters in history," Hoang Duc Cuong, deputy director of the environment ministry's meteorology and hydrology department, said in a statement Friday.

A total of 21 storms, including 15 typhoons and 6 tropical depressions, have affected Vietnam this year, the highest number since records began in 1961, according to the environment ministry's statement.

Vietnam is in one of the most active tropical cyclone regions on Earth, but in a typical year it is affected by around 10 typhoons or storms.

The country has also experienced extreme rainfall and widespread flooding this year, with rivers setting new high-water marks from the northern regions through central and down to the lower Mekong Delta.

"Never before have such exceptionally large and historical floods occurred simultaneously in one year on 20 rivers," the environment ministry said.

One area of central Vietnam recorded up to 1,739 millimeters (5.7 feet) of rain in just 24 hours.

Elsewhere in Asia, devastating floods in recent days have killed more than 1,500 people and displaced hundreds of thousands across four countries, including Indonesia and Sri Lanka.

In Vietnam, natural disasters have left more than 400 people dead or missing this year and caused more than $3.6 billion in damage, according to the ministry.

The Southeast Asian nation is prone to heavy rain between June and September, but scientists have identified a pattern of human-driven climate change making extreme weather more frequent and destructive.