Russia’s Mine Closures: Putin’s Mineral Deal & Trump’s Potential Betrayal
Despite President Putin’s claims of potential U.S.-Russia cooperation on rare earth minerals, Russia’s domestic mining industry, particularly coal, faces a severe crisis. Eight mines in the Kemerovo region have suspended operations due to debt, plummeting demand, and the impact of Western sanctions. This crisis, affecting hundreds of thousands of workers in coal-dependent towns, poses a significant political challenge for Putin and highlights the economic turmoil caused by the war in Ukraine. The failure of a proposed U.S.-Ukraine deal on rare earth minerals further complicates the situation, leaving Russia’s mining sector increasingly vulnerable.
John Q. Hosedrinker