From this beleaguered titanium mine, it’s hard to see how Ukraine could repay the half a trillion dollars that President Donald Trump has suggested they might give the US under a moonshot rare earth minerals deal.

Ukraine's rare earth element and mineral resources may be far lower than the Trump administration intends to capitalize on.

Ukraine said on Wednesday that it had reached a framework agreement with the United States on jointly developing Ukraine’s natural resources including rare earths, critical minerals, oil and gas.