Donald Trump (L) and Russia’s Vladimir Putin attended a joint press conference after meeting at the Presidential Palace in Helsinki on July 16, 2018.
Yuri Kadobnov | AFP | Getty Images
U.S. President Donald Trump suggested that Ukraine could lose sovereignty over Russia and said he hopes to provide compensation for the aid Washington provides to Ukraine.
“(Ukraine) may have an agreement. They may not have an agreement. They may be Russian one day, or they may not be Russian. But we will be there all that money (Ukraine), I said, I said, I said, I Want to come back.” Trump said in Fox News interview Aired on Monday.
The president also said the United States “basically agreed” to an agreement with Ukraine that would give Washington access to rare earth and mineral resources (mainly for electronics) in exchange for ongoing support.
“I told them I hope the equivalent of a rare earth (mineral) worth $500 billion, and they basically agreed to do that,” Trump told the broadcaster.
Ukraine has not yet publicly commented on the value of any potential minerals in the United States Prepare to “come an agreement” with the United States through minerals in exchange for aid. CNBC has contacted Zelenskyy’s office for comment.
Ukrainian leaders know that Trump and senior U.S. foreign and defense officials want to end the war and that they hope to reach an agreement with Moscow to achieve that.
This position disturbs Ukraine, giving Kiev a sense of urgency that appears to be willing to negotiate and fits Washington’s proposal for a peace agreement.
On February 24, the leader of Kiev said it was willing to participate in peace negotiations but demanded security assurances as part of any peace agreement.
Europe must “own” conflict
Trump’s comments are because Ukraine’s European allies may be under pressure this week to bear more burdens in supporting Kiev.
The U.S. State Department says Ukraine has provided US$65.9 billion in military aid so far Billions of dollars in financial and humanitarian aid since Russia began its invasion in 2022. EU says its overall military support for Ukraine since the beginning of the war 48.3 billion euros (US$49.8 billion).
A growing number of issues of ongoing support for Ukraine took center stage this week, including senior U.S. officials – including Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Keith Kellogg, Trump’s Trump special in Ukraine and Russia – travel to Europe – Head to the highly anticipated conference in Europe.
The first of these gatherings will be the Ukrainian Defense Contact Group (UDCG) in Brussels on Wednesday, during which a general expectation of a U.S. delegation to call on European allies to assume more economic responsibility to support Ukraine.
National Security Advisor Mike Waltz tells NBC News “Meet the Media” On Sunday, U.S. officials will use the UDCG meeting’s agreement with Kiev on aid and push European partners to take more responsibility for Ukraine’s future.
“We need to recover these fees, which will be a partnership with Ukrainians’ natural resources and oil and gas and the costs of our purchases,” Walz said on Sunday.
“These conversations will be held this week. I think the basic principle here is that Europeans have to have this conflict. President Trump will end this conflict. Then, as far as security guarantees are concerned, it’s totally easy to have with Europeans Together.”
Ukrainian soldiers in Karpatska in the basement in the direction of Toretsk, Ukraine on February 7, 2025.
Anadolu | Anadolu | Getty Images
The obvious signs that the United States wants to withdraw from its leadership position in Ukraine were the United Kingdom convened the UCDG. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is attending the event, but it will mark the first time his post holder has not chaired the organization in the past three years.
The Pentagon says In the statement Before the UDCG meeting, Hegseth “will interact with NATO allies and partners to discuss the need to increase allied defense spending, improve European leadership and expand the basic capabilities of defense industry on both sides.”
Heggs will “reaffirm President Trump’s commitment to the diplomatic end of the Ukrainian war as soon as possible. He will also stress the need to improve European leadership in security aid to Ukraine.”
CNBC solicits further comments from the Pentagon, but the Defense Department will not make any requests from officials this week for European officials. A Pentagon spokesman told CNBC that no major policy announcement is expected.
The status of the conversation
U.S. officials are expected to travel to Kiev this week and then to Germany for the Munich security conference on February 14. Zelenskyy said he would meet Vance at the meeting and he hopes to hold talks with President Trump this week.
U.S. leaders said on Monday that Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin were eager to reach a deal. Russia’s position on dialogue with the United States is even more Cycling, saying it’s ready for negotiations. CNBC has asked for further comment from the Kremlin.
“He (Zelenskyy) wants to make a deal. I’m going to say. We’re dealing with him and I think they both want to make a deal. But we have to see,” Trump told reporters Monday night. To NBC News.
“This has to be done. If I were president, it would never happen. It would never happen. Millions of people died.”
(Combination) Photo combination created on November 7, 2024, showing Ukrainian President Vodimir Zelensky (L) arrives, sidelines and former US President of the EU summit held on October 17, 2024 in Brussels and former US President and The Republican president and Republican president and Republican president held a press conference. Candidate Donald Trump (L) speaks at a campaign rally at JS Dotton Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina on November 4, 2024.
Ludovic Marinryan M. Kelly | AFP | Getty Images
President Zelenskyy confirmed that the talks are underway and said on Monday: “Our team is having our conversation, the conversation between me and President Trump. He has talked about that and I don’t think there is any secret to it.” NBC News says : “When it happened, it depends on the opportunity of both parties. ”
“As for whether (Putin and the tramp) are communicating – well, we’re going to see who, how and whether it actually happens,” Zelenskyy said.
