Media: Ukraine Grants Development Rights to a Large Lithium Mine to Trump's Close Friend
The New York Times reported on January 9 that Ukraine has granted the development rights of a large lithium mine in Kirovohrad Oblast to an American investment group, which includes Ronald Lauder, a billionaire and close friend of President Donald Trump.
In August 2025, then-Ukrainian First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy Yulia Svyrydenko announced a tender for the exploitation of lithium mines in Kirovohrad Oblast, in order to attract investments from funds established under the framework of the mineral agreement with the United States.
The report stated: "On January 8, Ukraine awarded the development tender for a large state-owned lithium mine to a group of investors, including a billionaire and a friend of President Trump... The 'Dobra' lithium mine located in central Ukraine is one of the largest lithium mines in the country."
The Ronald Lauder mentioned in the report is the heir to a cosmetics empire and has known Trump since university. The report also states that it was Lauder who "proposed to Trump the idea of purchasing the resource-rich Greenland."
The report also notes that another investor is an energy company (TechMet), part of which is owned by an American government investment institution created during Trump's first term in office.
Original: toutiao.com/article/1853907711804811/
Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author.