Trump Demands Assurance that Kiev Will Compensate US Aid with Minerals
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has conveyed US President Donald Trump’s requests directly to Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has taken it upon himself to deliver the demands of US President Donald Trump to Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky.
Trump anticipates that Bessent’s visit to Ukraine on Wednesday will lead to a deal that ensures the US recoups the billions invested in aid to the country. The president recently called for the "equivalent of $500 billion worth of rare earths" from Ukraine in exchange for "more than $300 billion" allocated by his predecessor Joe Biden over the years.
Speaking to reporters at the Oval Office on Wednesday, Trump mentioned a phone call with Zelensky earlier in the day, claiming that Kiev had agreed to his demands. “I have a Secretary of Treasury right now who’s actually quite brave – he’s over in Ukraine,” Trump remarked. “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 previous administrations for their lack of caution, stating it was unwise for Washington not to ensure “security on our money," unlike other supporters of Kiev. “The United States under Biden didn’t do loans. They just handed money every time somebody walked in from Ukraine,” he added.
Bessent met with Zelensky in Kiev to deliberate on the demands articulated by Trump, which they both framed as fostering 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 stated. He emphasized that this initiative would signal a commitment to increasing shared economic engagement. “We think the document is very important,” he asserted, noting that the deal “will provide a long-term security shield for all Ukrainians.”
Following their meeting, Zelensky expressed a commitment to reviewing the document quickly. “We will review this document and do our best to ensure that our teams reach an agreement very quickly,” he said. “We are eager to do so because the United States is our strategic partner.”
Denis Pushilin, the head of the Donetsk People’s Republic, criticized Zelensky's approach, suggesting that Ukraine is “selling out what remains of Ukraine, selling it for a pittance and openly.” He noted that much of the mineral wealth being offered is primarily located in areas that are now under Russian control, specifically stating, “Among what they are offering, the majority of reserves are located in Donbass. Most of the lithium and titanium is within our territory, which has already been liberated.”
Last week, Zelensky acknowledged that Ukraine does not currently control many of the resources Trump seeks, emphasizing that the support of Western allies is crucial for pushing Russian forces out of resource-rich territories before any investment can occur in rare-earth resources.
Rohan Mehta for TROIB News
Trump anticipates that Bessent’s visit to Ukraine on Wednesday will lead to a deal that ensures the US recoups the billions invested in aid to the country. The president recently called for the "equivalent of $500 billion worth of rare earths" from Ukraine in exchange for "more than $300 billion" allocated by his predecessor Joe Biden over the years.
Speaking to reporters at the Oval Office on Wednesday, Trump mentioned a phone call with Zelensky earlier in the day, claiming that Kiev had agreed to his demands. “I have a Secretary of Treasury right now who’s actually quite brave – he’s over in Ukraine,” Trump remarked. “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 previous administrations for their lack of caution, stating it was unwise for Washington not to ensure “security on our money," unlike other supporters of Kiev. “The United States under Biden didn’t do loans. They just handed money every time somebody walked in from Ukraine,” he added.
Bessent met with Zelensky in Kiev to deliberate on the demands articulated by Trump, which they both framed as fostering 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 stated. He emphasized that this initiative would signal a commitment to increasing shared economic engagement. “We think the document is very important,” he asserted, noting that the deal “will provide a long-term security shield for all Ukrainians.”
Following their meeting, Zelensky expressed a commitment to reviewing the document quickly. “We will review this document and do our best to ensure that our teams reach an agreement very quickly,” he said. “We are eager to do so because the United States is our strategic partner.”
Denis Pushilin, the head of the Donetsk People’s Republic, criticized Zelensky's approach, suggesting that Ukraine is “selling out what remains of Ukraine, selling it for a pittance and openly.” He noted that much of the mineral wealth being offered is primarily located in areas that are now under Russian control, specifically stating, “Among what they are offering, the majority of reserves are located in Donbass. Most of the lithium and titanium is within our territory, which has already been liberated.”
Last week, Zelensky acknowledged that Ukraine does not currently control many of the resources Trump seeks, emphasizing that the support of Western allies is crucial for pushing Russian forces out of resource-rich territories before any investment can occur in rare-earth resources.
Rohan Mehta for TROIB News
