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Trump’s remarks came shortly after he criticised Russian President Vladimir Putin for his comments about Zelenskyy....CONTINUE READING THE ARTICLE FROM THE SOURCE>>>
President Donald Trump issued a sharp warning to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, telling him that he could face “big, big problems” if he withdraws from the deal on rare earth minerals with the United States.
“He’s trying to back out of the rare earth deal,” Trump said, referring to the agreement that grants the US access to Ukraine’s valuable mineral resources, according to Business Standard.
“If he does that, he’s got some problems. Big, big problems. We made a deal on rare earth. And now he’s saying, ‘Well, you know, I want to renegotiate the deal,” Trump was quoted as saying.
Trump’s remarks came shortly after he criticised Russian President Vladimir Putin for his comments about Zelenskyy.
Trump also dismissed Zelenskyy’s ambitions to join NATO.
“He wants to be a member of NATO. He was never going to be a member of NATO. He understands that,” Trump said, making it clear that Zelenskyy’s NATO aspirations were unrealistic.
While en route from Florida to Washington on Sunday, Trump acknowledged the ongoing efforts to resolve the war, claiming, “We’re making a lot of progress.” However, he also noted the deep animosity between Zelenskyy and Putin, suggesting that negotiations may not lead to the quick resolution he had once envisioned.
Kyiv had reached an agreement with Washington on a minerals deal that Ukrainian officials believed would strengthen ties with the Trump administration and lay the groundwork for a long-term U.S. security partnership.
According to Ukrainian officials, Kyiv was prepared to sign the deal for joint development of its mineral resources, including oil and gas, after the U.S. withdrew its demand for a claim to $500 billion in potential revenue from the resource exploitation.
“The minerals agreement is only part of the picture. We have heard multiple times from the U.S. administration that it’s part of a bigger picture,” Olha Stefanishyna, Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Minister who has been leading the negotiations, informed the Financial Times.
The initial draft of the agreement included stringent terms that Trump framed as a way for Ukraine to repay the U.S. for military and financial aid provided since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. These conditions sparked outrage in Kyiv and across European capitals.
After President Zelenskyy rejected the draft, Trump labelled him a “dictator” and seemed to suggest that Ukraine was responsible for starting the war.
According to the final version of the agreement dated February 24, seen by the Financial Times, a fund will be created into which Ukraine will contribute 50% of the proceeds from the “future monetization” of state-owned mineral resources, including oil, gas, and related logistics.
The fund will be used to invest in projects within Ukraine.
According to the Financial Times, it excludes mineral resources that already contribute to the Ukrainian government’s revenue, meaning it would not apply to the existing activities of Naftogaz or Ukrnafta, Ukraine’s largest oil and gas producers…CONTINUE READING>>
