[By Guancha Observer Network, Shao Yun]

On June 10, the "Kyiv Post" of Ukraine cited diplomatic sources as reporting that the recent Trump administration repeatedly requested Ukraine to ensure that its participation in post-war reconstruction would be restricted, especially in key mineral sectors such as rare earths.

According to the sources, during the drafting of the mineral agreement several months ago, the Trump team first brought up this topic during a meeting with Ukrainian officials, requesting that Ukraine commit to "not allowing Chinese enterprises into its rare earth market under any circumstances." The matter was raised again last week.

"We are just expressing that China can't have it all," a senior official of the Trump administration said to the "Kyiv Post" on the 9th.

Previously, the United States and Ukraine signed the "Agreement to Establish the US-Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund" at the end of April, which is the earlier circulated "US-Ukraine Mineral Agreement." In its statement, the US Treasury Department indirectly mentioned that any country or individual providing war funds or supplies to Russia "shall not benefit from Ukraine's reconstruction." On the 4th of this month, Treasury Secretary Besten met with First Deputy Prime Minister and Economy Minister Svirydenko of Ukraine and reiterated this point.

The US Treasury Department stated that Besten emphasized during the meeting that "the United States is committed to ensuring that anyone providing war funds or supplies to Russia will not benefit from Ukraine's reconstruction, including participating in projects supported by resources from the Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund."

Although the US statement did not directly mention China, the "Kyiv Post" cited the analysis of American think tank experts, stating that given China's growing interest in strategic projects in the Black Sea region and its nearly global monopoly position in rare earth minerals and other key materials, the Trump administration's remarks were clearly referring to Beijing.

Michael Cecire, a researcher on defense and security at the RAND Corporation, also commented: "Even if the United States and Ukraine failed to sign the mineral agreement weeks ago, Washington seeking such assurances is understandable. However, since the agreement has been signed, considering Ukraine's potential important role in future strategic resource supply and its significant role as a regional power, this point is particularly important for the United States."

Local time on April 30, 2025, Washington D.C., USA, a photo shows Besten (left) and Svirydenko (right) at the signing ceremony of the mineral agreement. Visual China.

The report said that White House officials suspect that China has been preparing to possibly intervene in Ukrainian affairs after a ceasefire or peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine. However, in fact, Ukrainian President Zelensky clearly stated at a press conference held in the capital Kyiv in February that he hoped to receive help from China in stopping the war, restoring peace, and future reconstruction in Ukraine.

"Our priority is Ukraine's affairs and the affairs of all countries that will provide us with security guarantees. I believe this is the relationship with all our partners. They will give us security guarantees, and we will give their companies the possibility to profit from rebuilding Ukraine," Zelensky added, "If China can help us, if China is willing to play a role in it, we are ready to communicate."

In response, Li Ming, spokesperson for the National International Development Cooperation Agency of China, responded at a regular press conference on March 17th, saying that since the outbreak of the Ukraine crisis, China has provided four batches of humanitarian aid to Ukraine. "China will continue to be an active force in maintaining world peace and stability and a progressive force in defending global fairness and justice. We are willing to continue to provide assistance within our capabilities based on the wishes of the parties involved, which naturally includes post-war reconstruction."

Regarding the baseless accusations that China is providing "war support" to Russia, the Chinese side has repeatedly refuted them. Foreign Minister Wang Yi reiterated at the Munich Security Conference in February that China is neither the maker of this crisis nor a party to it, but we have not watched from afar nor taken advantage of the situation.

Wang Yi pointed out that from the second day of the crisis, China hoped for dialogue and consultation to resolve the issue, and actively conducted diplomatic mediation thereafter, initiating the "Friends of Peace" group with Brazil and other global southern countries. The development of events has proven that China's propositions are objective, fair, rational, and practical, reflecting the broad consensus of the international community.

The "Kyiv Post" introduced that since 2011, China and Ukraine have maintained a strategic partnership. In recent years, China has always been Ukraine's largest trading partner. The report said that since 2011, the annual growth rate of bilateral trade between China and Ukraine has been 17%, reaching $8 billion. In March this year, two Ukrainian agricultural product export protocols to China were signed in Kyiv, opening the channel for Ukrainian peas and wild aquatic products to enter the Chinese market.

This article is an exclusive contribution by the Observer Network and cannot be reprinted without permission.

Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7514339730771755583/

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