Donald Trump (L) and Russia's Vladimir Putin will come to a joint press conference on July 16, 2018 after a meeting in the Presidential Palace in Helsinki.
Yuri Kadobnov | AFP | Getty pictures
US President Donald Trump suggested that Ukraine could lose its sovereignty against Russia, and said that he wanted compensation for the help that Washington made available to Ukraine.
“[Ukraine] can make a deal. You can't make a deal. One day you can be Russian or one day you cannot be Russian. But we will have all this money in there [Ukraine] And I say I want to go back, “said Trump in a Fox News interview that was broadcast on Monday.
The President also said that the USA had “essentially agreed” a contract with Ukraine, in which Washington would receive rare earths and mineral resources – which are mainly used in electronics, in return for ongoing support.
“I told you that I would like the equivalent of rare earth worth 500 billion US dollars (minerals), and you essentially approved this,” Trump told the broadcaster.
Ukraine did not publicly comment on the value of a potential mineral contract with the United States, although President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said last week that he was ready to make a “deal” with the USA about minerals in return. CNBC turned to Zelenskyy's office to get a comment.
The Ukrainian leader is aware that Trump and high -ranking US foreign and defense officers want to bring the war to the end, and that they want to make a deal with Moscow so that this happens.
This attitude has generated Ukraine and Kyiv's need to negotiate, be urgent and to be accessible to the Washington's suggestions for a peace agreement.
In the midst of the perceived tiredness of its most important ally and with the third anniversary of the invasion of Ukraine in Russia on February 24, the Kyiv management announced that it was ready to take part in peace talks, but asked for security guarantees as part of a peace agreement.
Europe must “own” conflicts
Trump's comments come because the European allies of Ukraine are probably under pressure this week to take on more of the burden on the support of Kyiv in the future.
The US State Department says that America has so far provided military support of 65.9 billion US dollars and more financial and humanitarian aid of $ 65.9 Has initiated 2022. The EU gives at 48.3 billion euros (49.8 billion US dollars).
The increasingly burdened affair of constant support for Ukraine is the focus of the US of top -class meetings this week.
The first of these meetings is the “Ukraine Defense Contact Group” (UDCG) in Brussels on Wednesday, in which the US delegation will be asked to ask European allies to assume financial responsibility for the support of Ukraine.
Mike Waltz, National Security Advisor, told NBC News 'Meet the Press' on Sunday that US officials would use the UDCG meeting to conclude a contract with Kyiv about help and to make European partners more responsibility for them To wear the future of Ukraine.
“We have to repeat these costs, and this will be a partnership with the Ukrainians in relation to their natural resources and oil and gas as well as the purchase of our,” said Waltz on Sunday.
“These talks will take place this week. And I think with the Europeans.”
Ukrainian soldiers from Karpatska in a basement towards Toretsk, Ukraine, February 7, 2025.
Anadolu | Anadolu | Getty pictures
In a clear sign that the United States wants to withdraw from its leadership role in Ukraine, it is the United Kingdom that convened the UCDG. Defense Minister Pete Hegseth takes part in the event, but this will mark this for the first time in the past three years that the owner of his post has not managed the group.
The Pentagon said in a statement before the UDCG meeting that Hegseth “will work with the allies and partners of NATO to discuss the need to increase allied defense spending, increase European leadership and the industrial capacity of the defense on both sides of the To expand Atlantic. ”
Hegseth will repeat “President Trump's commitment to a diplomatic end of the war in Ukraine as soon as possible.
CNBC asked the Pentagon for further comments, but the Ministry of Defense would not be due to what US officials could request from their European colleagues this week. A Pentagon spokesman announced CNBC that no important political announcements were expected.
The status of the talks
The US officials are also expected to travel to Kyiv this week before traveling to Germany from 14 to 16 February via the Munich Security Conference. Zelenskyy said he would meet Vance at the conference and he hoped to have talks with President Trump this week.
The US leader said on Monday that Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin endeavored to complete a deal. Russia was more shy about the status of the dialogue with the United States and only said that it is ready to negotiate. CNBC has requested another comment from the Kremlin.
“He [Zelenskyy] wants to make a deal. I would say. We have to deal with him and I think they both want to make a deal. But we have to see, “said Trump reporters on Monday evening.
“It has to be done. It would never have happened if I had been president. That would never have happened. Millions of people are dead,” said Trump, confirming that Keith Kellogg would also be in Ukraine this week.
(Combination) This combination of images created on November 7, 2024 The candidate Donald Trump (L) will come on November 4, 2024 during a campaign rally at the JS Dorton Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina, Speak.
Ludovic Marinryan M. Kelly | AFP | Getty pictures
President Zelenskyy confirmed that the talks took place on Monday that “our teams on our dialogue, about the conversation between me and President Trump. He talked about it, and I don't think it is when it will happen, depending on the possibilities that are available both sides, “he said according to the NBC News.
“Whether, whether [Putin and Tramp] Communicate – well, we will see who, how and whether it actually happens, “said Zelenskyy.
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