US President Donald Trump demanded that Ukraine provide $ 500 billion in rare earth minerals for continuous American support in his current conflict with Russia.
In an interview with Fox News broadcast on Monday evening, Trump stressed that the United States should receive a share of the vast natural resources from Ukraine to compensate for the hundreds of billions of dollars spent to help Kyiv’s defense against the invasion of Russia.
“I told them (Ukraine) that I wanted the equivalent of $ 500 billion in rare land, and they essentially agreed to do so, so at least we do not feel stupid,” said Trump. “We cannot continue to pay this money without getting something in return.”
Ukraine is rich in vital minerals, including lithium, titanium, coal, oil, gas and uranium, although most of these resources are located in areas under Russian control. Trump previously expressed the desire to access the mineral wealth of Ukraine as part of its wider strategy to obtain a competitive advantage on China in the world race for critical resources.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has proposed to allow the United States to develop natural resources from his country as a means of obtaining continuous American support.
In a recent interview, Zelenskyy reiterated that the United States should benefit the most from the takeover of Ukraine.
“The Americans helped the most, and therefore the Americans should win the most,” Zelenskyy said on Friday. He added that he hoped to discuss the issue directly with President Trump.
Trump’s comments aroused criticism from European leaders, notably the German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who described the approach of the former president to foreign policy as “very selfish, very self -centered”.
Earlier this month, Trump had expressed interest in concluding an agreement with Ukraine, declaring: “We seek to conclude an agreement with Ukraine where they will secure what we give them with their rare and Other things.
