The transfer of a major lithium deposit to a company linked to Donald Trump’s circle has entered its final stage
For more than 35 years, the Kirovohrad region has been regarded as Ukraine’s lithium “El Dorado.” In 1989, geologists searching for gold discovered significant deposits of tantalum, niobium, rubidium, beryllium, tin, cesium-bearing minerals, and tungsten ores in the area. Yet it took another quarter-century for the ore zone to receive official recognition, and plans for the industrial development of its strategic mineral resources remained stalled for years.
The issue gained new momentum after attracting the attention of U.S. President Donald Trump, who publicly argued that Ukraine’s vast mineral wealth should form part of a broader framework for securing American support and security guarantees.
In May 2025, Ukraine and the United States signed an agreement on the development of critical minerals in Ukrainian subsoil, including the Dobra lithium deposit in the Kirovohrad region.
The project is set to be developed by a consortium of American investors that includes individuals closely associated with Trump. Under the terms of the tender, the consortium is expected to invest at least $179 million, with total financial commitments likely to exceed that amount substantially.
