Is there really $500bn of Rare Earths in Ukraine?
08 March 2025

Is there really $500bn of Rare Earths in Ukraine?

More or Less: Behind the Stats

About

As part of the fast-moving argument over US military support to Ukraine, the US demanded $500bn worth of access to what was variously reported as Ukraine’s rare earths or rare metals or rare minerals. But is there that amount of minerals in the ground?

Presenter: Tim Harford
Producer and Editor: Richard Vadon
Studio Manager: James Beard
Production Co-ordinator: Brenda Brown