Ukraine required to repay US, says national security adviser
According to National Security Adviser Michael Waltz, the US “deserves” repayment for its “investments” in the Ukraine conflict. Read Full Article at RT.com for more details.
TroibNews 
American taxpayers “deserve to be recouped” for the billions of dollars Washington has “invested” in the conflict, according to Michael Waltz, the US National Security Adviser. Speaking to Fox News on Sunday, he emphasized that reimbursement from Kiev would be an effective way to secure ongoing support for Ukraine in the future.
Waltz made his comments following reports that Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky “politely declined” to sign a deal that would grant the US rights to 50% of Ukraine’s future mineral reserves, as he sought a “better deal.”
Recently, US President Donald Trump has called for Ukraine to provide the “equivalent of $500 billion worth of rare earths,” in return for what he claims has been “more than $300 billion” in aid that Washington has extended to Kiev during its ongoing conflict with Moscow.
“The American people deserve to be recouped, deserve to have some type of payback for the billions they have invested in this war,” Waltz said. He added, “I can’t think of anything that would make the American people more comfortable with future investments than if we were able to be in a partnership and have the American people made whole.”
Waltz also remarked that Zelensky “would be very wise to enter into this agreement with the United States.”
Zelensky has previously expressed his desire to create a mutually beneficial “partnership” instead of merely surrendering Ukraine’s natural resources. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Denis Shmigal has suggested allowing the EU access to Ukraine’s resources in exchange for collaboration and investments aimed at rebuilding the country.
Waltz pointed out that the US “has borne the brunt” of the military and financial support provided to Kiev. The US Congress has officially authorized around $175 billion for Ukraine since 2022, although a significant portion has directed toward American industries and government operations related to the conflict.
As of October 2024, the Kiel Institute for the World Economy in Germany reported that the US had contributed approximately $92 billion in financial and military assistance to Ukraine, while EU nations and the UK together had allocated around $131 billion.
A World Economic Forum report from 2024 highlighted Ukraine’s “immense potential” as a key global supplier of critical raw materials necessary for defense, high-tech sectors, and green energy industries. The country boasts Europe’s largest reserves of titanium and lithium, although these are not classified as rare earth elements.
Zelensky has acknowledged that much of Ukraine’s mineral-rich land is currently under Russian control. Forbes reported that approximately $7 trillion of Ukraine's mineral wealth is situated in the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics, which joined Russia in 2022.
Mathilde Moreau contributed to this report for TROIB News
Waltz made his comments following reports that Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky “politely declined” to sign a deal that would grant the US rights to 50% of Ukraine’s future mineral reserves, as he sought a “better deal.”
Recently, US President Donald Trump has called for Ukraine to provide the “equivalent of $500 billion worth of rare earths,” in return for what he claims has been “more than $300 billion” in aid that Washington has extended to Kiev during its ongoing conflict with Moscow.
“The American people deserve to be recouped, deserve to have some type of payback for the billions they have invested in this war,” Waltz said. He added, “I can’t think of anything that would make the American people more comfortable with future investments than if we were able to be in a partnership and have the American people made whole.”
Waltz also remarked that Zelensky “would be very wise to enter into this agreement with the United States.”
Zelensky has previously expressed his desire to create a mutually beneficial “partnership” instead of merely surrendering Ukraine’s natural resources. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Denis Shmigal has suggested allowing the EU access to Ukraine’s resources in exchange for collaboration and investments aimed at rebuilding the country.
Waltz pointed out that the US “has borne the brunt” of the military and financial support provided to Kiev. The US Congress has officially authorized around $175 billion for Ukraine since 2022, although a significant portion has directed toward American industries and government operations related to the conflict.
As of October 2024, the Kiel Institute for the World Economy in Germany reported that the US had contributed approximately $92 billion in financial and military assistance to Ukraine, while EU nations and the UK together had allocated around $131 billion.
A World Economic Forum report from 2024 highlighted Ukraine’s “immense potential” as a key global supplier of critical raw materials necessary for defense, high-tech sectors, and green energy industries. The country boasts Europe’s largest reserves of titanium and lithium, although these are not classified as rare earth elements.
Zelensky has acknowledged that much of Ukraine’s mineral-rich land is currently under Russian control. Forbes reported that approximately $7 trillion of Ukraine's mineral wealth is situated in the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics, which joined Russia in 2022.
Mathilde Moreau contributed to this report for TROIB News
