Ukrainian President Voldymir Zelensky rejected President Trump's request for half of Ukraine's rare earth minerals, saying the proposal appears to be viewed as compensation for previous US aid.
Demand for $500 billion, which was a key part of Zelensky's meeting with Vice President JD Vance on Friday, did not provide Ukraine's specific security guarantees to the line. A promise for the future, according to Ukrainian officials who are well-versed in consultations.
“I didn't let the pastor sign an agreement relating to the pastor because, in my view, we are not ready to protect us, and we are not ready to protect our interests,” Zelensky said on the weekend. He spoke to.
“To me, that's very important. It's a relationship between some kind of security guarantee and some kind of investment,” he said.
White House National Security Council spokesman Brian Hughes has denounced Zelensky's decision of “myopia” because he disagreed with “the great opportunity that the Trump administration has presented to Ukraine.”
“Controlling economic ties with the United States will be the best guarantee against future attacks and an integral part of lasting peace,” Hughes said.
“The United States must recognize this, the Russians must recognize this, and the Ukrainians must recognize this.”
The Ukraine denial comes just a week after Trump touted that he had “essentially agreed” to provide US$500 billion in rare earth minerals as a payment for the aid provided by Washington.
Ukraine has around 5% of the world's mineral resources, with a wealth of titanium, uranium, iron, manganese and lithium, as well as rare earth minerals that are considered essential for US national security.
Ukraine owns approximately 7% of the world's largest reserve of titanium, the world's largest reserve, needed to produce everything from aerospace and defense materials to medicine and gemstones.
In addition to worry about America's commitment to supporting Ukraine, Kiev is reportedly concerned about how the US will support rich mineral deposits amid the Russian invasion.
The US proposal presented before Ukraine apparently did not include details on that front, and Trump's team is said to be unprepared to answer those questions.
Officials said Kiev is currently preparing its own “reverse proposal” for the mineral trade that will be presented to the US in the “near future.”
Zelensky first broached such a deal with his victory plan presented to the US last year, agreeing to open up the country's natural resources in exchange for US support for Russia.
“I think it's important that the Vice President understands that if you want to sign something, you have to understand that it will work,” the Ukrainian president said of his consultation with Vance.
With post wire
