This content was formerly published by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, and it is now being reprinted with permission.
U. S. President Donald Trump said he is seeking hundreds of billions of dollars for of , rare earth resources , from Ukraine in exchange for Washington’s aid in the , war against Russia, implying that failing to do so could indicate a reduction of the country’s independence.
Trump made the remarks in an interview with Fox News later on February 10 as the White House launched a diplomatic offensive in Europe this year, just weeks before the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale conquest of Ukraine.
Because we’re spending hundreds of billions of dollars, I want to own our income secured. I told them that I wanted the equivalent of$ 500 billion worth of rare earth, and they essentially agreed to do that,” Trump said in the interview.
He added:” And, you know, they may make a deal, they may not make a deal, they may be Russian tomorrow, or they may not be Russian eventually, but we’re going to have all this cash in there and I say we’re going to need it back”.
Trump said he will communicate with Volodymyr Zelenskyy, president of Ukraine, this year, while his special representative for Ukraine and Russia will soon visit Ukraine. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth visits leaders from around Europe on a trip to Poland, Belgium, and France.
Zelenskyy made an apparent willingness to accept Trump’s situation, telling The Guardian in an interview from February 11 that he wants Ukraine to become strong when peace negotiations are in full swing and that American companies could be leading restoration work.
” Those who are assisting us in saving Ukraine will have the opportunity to]renovate it, working with Ukrainian firms as well.” All these items we are ready to talk about in detail”, he said, adding “Ukraine does transfer provinces with Russia”.
Trump did not specify the envoy’s arrival in Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, but CNN reported that it would happen the following year, according to AFP, and a source from the Russian presidency claimed that the visit may take place on February 20.
According to Zelenskyy official Sergiy Nykyforov, the Russian president will match with Vice President J. D. Vance on the outside of the Munich Security Conference, which begins on February 14.
U. S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and , Hegseth , even are scheduled to be in Munich, while Trump said he was sending Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to Ukraine this year as part of primary debate aimed at securing U. S. exposure to essential nutrients.
Hegseth reportedly stated at his first press conference in Germany that he would support Western allies ‘ efforts to spend more money on security and that the presence of American forces in Ukraine would not be tolerated.
The continent of Europe deserves to be free of any anger, but community residents should be making the most of their collective and individual defense investments, he said.
Trump is calling for a quick resolution to the conflict, while Zelenskyy calls for strong surveillance offers as part of any offer with Russia.
Kyiv apprehensive about any deal that doesn’t include serious military commitments, such as joining NATO or deploying security forces, giving the Kremlin time to regroup and resurrect in preparation for a new attack.
Over the weekend, Trump said he had spoken to Russia’s Vladimir Putin but he declined to identify whether the , speaks  , took place before or after he was inaugurated on January 20.
He continued to state that he and Putin shared their thoughts on the progress made in the war’s efforts, but he declined to provide more details.
The Kremlin has stated that it can’t confirm or refute whether Putin and Trump have spoken, but on February 11, it appeared to capitalize on Trump’s remarks regarding what might happen if Kyiv rejects a bargain for its assets. stating that” a significant portion of Ukraine wants to become Russia and has already morphed into Russia.”
Sergei Ryabkov, the deputy foreign minister, stated in a press conference in Moscow on February 10 that the demands made by Putin next June were intact, including that Ukraine withdraw its troops from all of the territory of four of the country’s claimed and largely controlled by Russia.
He even warned that Washington’s relations “are on the verge of a breakup.”
” We have constantly said that they]Russian-U. S. relations ] are on the verge of rupture”, he said, adding the” confrontational content” of bilateral relations has intensified.
Kiev, which insists it be at the dealing board no matter what, is plagued by fears that Washington and Moscow might reach a peace deal without Ukraine’s presence.
” It’s essential to understand that when we talk about the process of ‘ nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine,’ we mean that choices shouldn’t be made without Ukraine’s participation”, Oleksandr Merezhko, a Ukrainian assistant and the head of the parliamentary commission on foreign policy and diplomatic relations, told RFE/RL ‘s , Ukrainian Service.
” Putin doesn’t need discussions, and he wants to consider Ukraine’s death without Ukraine’s involvement. He hopes that the United States and Russia may consent on Ukraine’s death, and Ukraine will be part of Russia’s sphere of influence”.
