US President Donald Trump has said he wants access to Ukraine’s mineral deposits in exchange for future military aid that Kyiv needs as it continues to defend itself against Russia’s aggression.

Ukraine previously offered U.S. access to its rare earth minerals in hopes of keeping the Trump administration engaged in its fight with Russia.

It will be three years since Russian president Vladimir Putin ordered his army to invade neighbouring Ukraine on February 24. Mr Putin said Russia was intervening as an act of self-defence. Russia did not want to occupy Ukraine, he said, but would demilitarise and "de-Nazify" the country.

The president appears to have adopted a proposal first made last year that offers “strategic partners” such as the U.S. special access to Ukraine's glut of natural resources.

We’re looking to do a deal with Ukraine where they’re going to secure what we’re giving them with their rare earth and other things,' Trump said – 'I want security of the rare earth'

President Donald Trump on Monday indicated that he wants to reach an agreement with Ukraine to gain access to the country’s rare earth elements as a condition for continuing U.S. support for its war a

Trump said his administration wants to make a deal with Ukraine to access its key natural resources in exchange for continued U.S. support.