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President Donald Trump on Monday said he wanted an agreement that gave the US access to rare land resources in Ukraine in exchange for constant military and economic aid for Kyiv as he struggles to stop Russia’s occupation.
The proposal seems to match a strategy that Ukraine is developing to deepen ties with the Trump administration allowing the US access to critical minerals used in high -tech industry.
Speaking at the White House, Trump repeated complaints that Washington had provided more support for Ukraine than its European allies.
“We are looking to make a deal where they will provide what we are giving them with their rare land and other things,” he told Ukraine.
Trump suggested that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was open to him.
“We’re setting hundreds of billions of dollars,” Trump said. “They have great rare land. And I want the safety of the rare land, and they are willing to do it. “
A person close to Zelenskyy told Financial Times that Trump’s remarks “seem to match the” victory plan “presented to him in the fall”. The person said Ukraine had offered Trump “special terms” for cooperation on the main sources, emphasizing the need to protect them from Russia and Iran.
“Of course, we are ready to work with America,” the person added.
Zelenskyy introduced a sketch of Trump plan in New York last September during the US election campaign.
It involves sharing critical natural resources with Western partners, replacing US troops in Europe with Ukraine forces and offering Trump investment control power to block Chinese business interests in Ukraine.
Kyiv holds wide reserves of titanium, iron and coal ore, as well as about 500,000 tonnes of unused lithium lithium, collectively estimated to value tens of trillions of dollars.
Some of these sources run the risk of losing Russia’s progressive forces in the birth of Ukraine, or have already fallen under Russian occupation.
“Control over mineral resources has become a part of the war,” said Mustafa Nayyem, the former head of the Ukrainian State Agency for the restoration and development of infrastructure. The country is not only fighting for its territory, he added, “but also for the right to manage his strategic wealth, which can be an essential factor in its recovery.”
Trump has pledged to bring a quick end to Russia’s war against Ukraine. He previously said his administration had held “very serious” talks with Russia during the war.
“We’ve made a lot of progress in Russia, Ukraine,” Trump said on Monday. “We will see what happens. We will stop that funny war. “
While a supporter of Trump’s enthusiasm to end the three-year war, the American leader’s suggestion that he had formulated part of a plan with Russia without Ukraine has aroused leaders in Kyiv.
Speaking to the Associated Press on Saturday, Zelenskyy said his team was engaged with Trump’s advisers and waited for meetings inside soon.
“They may have their relationships, but talking about Ukraine without us – it’s dangerous to everyone,” Zelenskyy said.
