Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called for a meeting with former U.S. President Donald Trump to discuss a potential deal granting the U.S. access to Ukraine’s minerals and rare earths before any talks between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Speaking at a press conference in Kyiv on Sunday, Zelenskyy emphasized the importance of addressing Ukraine’s security concerns ahead of any U.S.-Russia dialogue.
“I believe this meeting should be fair, which means it should happen before Trump meets Putin,” Zelenskyy stated.
The call comes less than 24 hours after Trump, speaking at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) near Washington, vowed to reclaim U.S. funds spent supporting Ukraine amid its ongoing war with Russia.
“I’m trying to get the money back, or secured,” Trump said, adding, “I want them to give us something for all of the money that we put up. We’re asking for rare earth and oil—anything we can get.”
The potential deal underscores growing tensions over U.S. support for Ukraine and the geopolitical stakes tied to the country’s rich natural resources.
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