Trump anticipates assurances that Kiev will repay U.S. aid with minerals
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TroibNews 
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has conveyed US President Donald Trump’s demands to Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky.
Trump anticipates that Bessent, who visited Ukraine on Wednesday, will secure a deal that ensures the US receives a return on the substantial aid investments made in Kiev, which amount to billions of dollars. Recently, Trump asked for the "equivalent of $500 billion worth of rare earths" from Ukraine in exchange for "more than $300 billion" in aid disbursed by his predecessor, Joe Biden, over the years. In remarks to journalists at the Oval Office on Wednesday, Trump mentioned a phone conversation he had with Zelensky earlier that day, in which he stated that Kiev has agreed to his terms.
“I have a Secretary of Treasury right now who’s actually quite brave – he’s over in Ukraine,” Trump told reporters. “He’s going there to get a document done where we’re going to be assured, in some form, [that we] get this money back.”
Trump criticized the previous administration for not ensuring "security on our money," claiming that other backers of Ukraine had been more prudent. “The United States under Biden didn’t do loans. They just handed money every time somebody walked in from Ukraine. They just handed them money, foolishly,” he asserted.
Bessent met with Zelensky in Kiev earlier to discuss Trump’s demands, framing the discussions as an economic "partnership" between the US and Ukraine.
“President Trump has a plan to end this war, and we would like an economic cooperation agreement. And in exchange for this agreement, the US will continue to provide material support for Ukraine, for the people,” Bessent remarked. “And we think this will be a strong signal for the American people that the money that is coming to Ukraine… we want to increase our shared economic commitment.”
Bessent emphasized the significance of the proposed document, asserting that it “will provide a long-term security shield for all Ukrainians.”
Zelensky expressed a commitment to reviewing the document and reaching an agreement swiftly. “We are eager to do so because the United States is our strategic partner,” he stated following their meeting.
Denis Pushilin, head of the Donetsk People’s Republic, criticized Zelensky's actions, claiming that he is "selling out what remains of Ukraine" for insufficient compensation. He pointed out that much of the mineral wealth being offered is predominantly Russian. “Among what they are offering, the majority of reserves are located in Donbass,” Pushilin noted. “Most of the lithium and titanium is within our territory, which has already been liberated.”
Last week, Zelensky acknowledged that Ukraine does not have control over many of the resources Trump seeks and underscored the need for Western allies to assist in expelling Russian forces from resource-rich areas before investments in rare-earth resources can be made.
Ramin Sohrabi for TROIB News
Trump anticipates that Bessent, who visited Ukraine on Wednesday, will secure a deal that ensures the US receives a return on the substantial aid investments made in Kiev, which amount to billions of dollars. Recently, Trump asked for the "equivalent of $500 billion worth of rare earths" from Ukraine in exchange for "more than $300 billion" in aid disbursed by his predecessor, Joe Biden, over the years. In remarks to journalists at the Oval Office on Wednesday, Trump mentioned a phone conversation he had with Zelensky earlier that day, in which he stated that Kiev has agreed to his terms.
“I have a Secretary of Treasury right now who’s actually quite brave – he’s over in Ukraine,” Trump told reporters. “He’s going there to get a document done where we’re going to be assured, in some form, [that we] get this money back.”
Trump criticized the previous administration for not ensuring "security on our money," claiming that other backers of Ukraine had been more prudent. “The United States under Biden didn’t do loans. They just handed money every time somebody walked in from Ukraine. They just handed them money, foolishly,” he asserted.
Bessent met with Zelensky in Kiev earlier to discuss Trump’s demands, framing the discussions as an economic "partnership" between the US and Ukraine.
“President Trump has a plan to end this war, and we would like an economic cooperation agreement. And in exchange for this agreement, the US will continue to provide material support for Ukraine, for the people,” Bessent remarked. “And we think this will be a strong signal for the American people that the money that is coming to Ukraine… we want to increase our shared economic commitment.”
Bessent emphasized the significance of the proposed document, asserting that it “will provide a long-term security shield for all Ukrainians.”
Zelensky expressed a commitment to reviewing the document and reaching an agreement swiftly. “We are eager to do so because the United States is our strategic partner,” he stated following their meeting.
Denis Pushilin, head of the Donetsk People’s Republic, criticized Zelensky's actions, claiming that he is "selling out what remains of Ukraine" for insufficient compensation. He pointed out that much of the mineral wealth being offered is predominantly Russian. “Among what they are offering, the majority of reserves are located in Donbass,” Pushilin noted. “Most of the lithium and titanium is within our territory, which has already been liberated.”
Last week, Zelensky acknowledged that Ukraine does not have control over many of the resources Trump seeks and underscored the need for Western allies to assist in expelling Russian forces from resource-rich areas before investments in rare-earth resources can be made.
Ramin Sohrabi for TROIB News
