Factbox-What are Russia's rare earth metals ambitions?

President Vladimir Putin has offered the U.S. the opportunity under a future economic deal to jointly explore Russia's rare earth metal deposits that he says are greater than those of Ukraine. Putin's offer followed negotiations between the U.S. and Ukraine over a draft minerals deal that is expected to be signed during Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's visit to Washington on Friday. China's control of 95% of global production and supplies of rare earth metals, crucial for industries such as defence and consumer electronics, has focused the rest of the world on trying to develop their own supplies.