US President Donald Trump has suggested that Ukraine may come under Russian control “someday” as he pushed for the war-ravaged country to offer its natural resources in exchange for continued US assistance.
Speaking in an interview with Fox News on Monday, Trump claimed that he had proposed Kyiv hand over “$500 billion worth of rare earth” as a condition for US support. He further asserted that Ukrainian officials had “essentially agreed” to the proposal.
“Ukraine has tremendously valuable land in terms of rare earth, in terms of oil and gas, in terms of other things,” Trump said. “I want to have our money secured because we’re spending hundreds of billions of dollars.”
Trump’s remarks have sparked fresh concerns over the future of US aid to Ukraine, especially as his return to the political arena casts uncertainty over billions of dollars in future military and economic assistance to the embattled nation.
“They may make a deal, they may not make a deal. They may be Russian someday, or they may not be Russian someday. But we are going to have all this money in there and I say I want it back,” Trump added.
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Diplomatic Developments
Trump’s comments come just ahead of a planned meeting between Ohio Senator J.D. Vance and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The meeting, reportedly scheduled to take place later this week, is expected to touch on US support for Ukraine and potential paths to ending the ongoing war with Russia.
Meanwhile, Trump’s envoy to Ukraine and Russia, retired General Keith Kellogg, has announced that he will discuss US diplomatic efforts at the upcoming Munich Security Conference, set for February 14-16. Following the conference, Kellogg is expected to visit Kyiv on February 20 for what would be his first trip to Ukraine in this capacity, according to Ukrainian state media.
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Ukrainian Response
There has been no official response from Kyiv regarding Trump’s claims that they had “essentially agreed” to a resource-sharing arrangement. However, Ukrainian leaders have previously maintained that international support should be based on shared democratic values and security interests rather than economic transactions.
As Trump continues to voice skepticism over continued US aid, analysts warn that his stance could further complicate Ukraine’s ability to secure long-term military and economic support from Western allies.
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International Reactions
Trump’s latest remarks are likely to fuel debates in Washington and among NATO allies over the US’s role in the conflict. While some of his supporters argue for a more transactional approach to foreign aid, critics contend that his statements could embolden Russian President Vladimir Putin and weaken Ukraine’s negotiating position.
With Kellogg’s upcoming visits to Munich and Kyiv, further clarity may emerge on the direction of US policy toward Ukraine, particularly if Trump secures a stronger foothold in shaping future diplomatic efforts.
Source: Revised version of a CNN story