If Ukraine wants the US to support it militarily, it will have to give Washington access to exploit the rare mineral materials that lie on Ukrainian soil.
Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump complained that the US had sent more military and economic aid to Ukraine than its European partners, adding, "We're looking to make a deal with Ukraine where they'll give us their rare earth materials and other things," A2 writes.
Trump said he had received promises from the Ukrainian government that they would be willing to make a deal to give the US access to critical elements for a modern high-tech economy.
“I want to have rare earth security,” Trump added. “We’re investing hundreds of billions of dollars. They have great rare earth. And I want rare earth security, and they’re willing to do that.”
Trump, who had previously said he would bring a quick end to the war, said talks were continuing to end the conflict.
"We've made a lot of progress in Russia and Ukraine," Trump said. "We'll see what happens. We're going to stop that ridiculous war."
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told the Associated Press on Saturday that any negotiations between the United States and Russia without his country were unacceptable.
Meanwhile, sources told Reuters that there are factions within the U.S. administration that are at odds over the extent to which the U.S. should continue to assist Kiev’s war effort with weapons from U.S. stockpiles, one of the people, a U.S. official, said. Halting the flow of U.S. weapons would hamper Kiev’s ability to fight and put it in a less favorable negotiating position in peace talks.
It is unclear whether the Trump administration will officially acknowledge the pause and subsequent resumption of shipments. (A2 Televizion)
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