Moscow, Feb. 25 -- Russia on Monday said that it is ready to strike a deal with the United States on rare earth metals. Speaking with media in Moscow, Dmitry Peskov, the Press Secretary of the President of Russia, said that the country has many rare earth metals that the United States needs and any possible deal in future will further boost cooperation between both nations.

Earlier in the day, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Russia was ready to work with "foreign partners, including Americans" on developing reserves of rare and rare earth metals, including in parts in Ukraine that are now controlled by Russia.

"Russia is one of the undisputed leaders in these rare earth metal reserves. We have them in the north, in Murmansk, ...