Trump Says Putin Will "Follow Through" on Ukraine Agreement
<b>US Leader Considers Secondary Tariffs on Russia if Peace Efforts Falter</b> US President Donald Trump conveyed his belief that Russian President Vladimir Putin would adhere to any potential peace agreement concerning the Ukraine conflict....
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US Leader Considers Secondary Tariffs on Russia if Peace Efforts Falter
US President Donald Trump conveyed his belief that Russian President Vladimir Putin would adhere to any potential peace agreement concerning the Ukraine conflict. However, Trump cautioned Ukraine against withdrawing from a deal related to rare-earth minerals with the United States.
In a press briefing on Monday, Trump reiterated his intention to swiftly resolve the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, emphasizing the need for Putin to fulfill any peace agreement. He stated, “I want to make sure that he [Putin] follows through” on the deal.
“I think he will. I don’t want to go secondary tariffs on his oil, but I think it’s something I would do if I thought he wasn’t doing the job,” Trump added.
Trump also expressed his hope that Ukraine's President Vladimir Zelensky would honor his commitments but criticized him for what he described as attempts to renegotiate the rare-earths deal. This agreement would allow the US access to Ukraine’s mineral resources. While Trump framed the arrangement as a means for Ukraine to repay past US aid, Zelensky has maintained that Ukraine has no debts to Washington.
Trump remarked, “We made a deal for rare earths. It was all done. They’re now saying, ‘Well, I’ll only do that deal if we get into NATO or something to that effect.’” He denied that NATO membership for Ukraine was ever part of the discussion, implying that this issue may have contributed to the heightened tensions between Moscow and Kiev in 2022.
Previously, Trump had warned Zelensky of “big problems” if he chooses to reject the rare-earths arrangement. Zelensky, however, countered that “the framework [of the agreement] has been changed” since their late February meeting.
During that encounter at the White House, tensions flared, with Trump accusing Zelensky of ingratitude and of “playing with World War III” due to what he perceived as hesitation to negotiate with Russia.
On Sunday, Trump voiced his frustration regarding Putin’s suggestion to establish a temporary UN-led administration in Ukraine to oversee new elections. Russia has long deemed Zelensky as an “illegitimate” leader, citing the expiration of his presidential term in May 2024.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov indicated that both Moscow and Washington are considering various strategies to address the Ukraine conflict, noting that Putin is receptive to communication with Trump. Russia posits that a resolution could be achieved if Ukraine commits to neutrality and demilitarization while recognizing the existing territorial realities.
Mark B Thomas for TROIB News
US President Donald Trump conveyed his belief that Russian President Vladimir Putin would adhere to any potential peace agreement concerning the Ukraine conflict. However, Trump cautioned Ukraine against withdrawing from a deal related to rare-earth minerals with the United States.
In a press briefing on Monday, Trump reiterated his intention to swiftly resolve the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, emphasizing the need for Putin to fulfill any peace agreement. He stated, “I want to make sure that he [Putin] follows through” on the deal.
“I think he will. I don’t want to go secondary tariffs on his oil, but I think it’s something I would do if I thought he wasn’t doing the job,” Trump added.
Trump also expressed his hope that Ukraine's President Vladimir Zelensky would honor his commitments but criticized him for what he described as attempts to renegotiate the rare-earths deal. This agreement would allow the US access to Ukraine’s mineral resources. While Trump framed the arrangement as a means for Ukraine to repay past US aid, Zelensky has maintained that Ukraine has no debts to Washington.
Trump remarked, “We made a deal for rare earths. It was all done. They’re now saying, ‘Well, I’ll only do that deal if we get into NATO or something to that effect.’” He denied that NATO membership for Ukraine was ever part of the discussion, implying that this issue may have contributed to the heightened tensions between Moscow and Kiev in 2022.
Previously, Trump had warned Zelensky of “big problems” if he chooses to reject the rare-earths arrangement. Zelensky, however, countered that “the framework [of the agreement] has been changed” since their late February meeting.
During that encounter at the White House, tensions flared, with Trump accusing Zelensky of ingratitude and of “playing with World War III” due to what he perceived as hesitation to negotiate with Russia.
On Sunday, Trump voiced his frustration regarding Putin’s suggestion to establish a temporary UN-led administration in Ukraine to oversee new elections. Russia has long deemed Zelensky as an “illegitimate” leader, citing the expiration of his presidential term in May 2024.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov indicated that both Moscow and Washington are considering various strategies to address the Ukraine conflict, noting that Putin is receptive to communication with Trump. Russia posits that a resolution could be achieved if Ukraine commits to neutrality and demilitarization while recognizing the existing territorial realities.
Mark B Thomas for TROIB News
