"Seeking Refund or Guarantee": Donald Trump on Support for Ukraine
Donald Trump stated that the president of Ukraine recognized that finalizing an agreement with the United States was essential.
On Saturday, US President Donald Trump mentioned that he was attempting to retrieve funds for the billions allocated to aid Ukraine's conflict against Russia.
These remarks were made while Washington and Kyiv were engaged in discussions regarding a mineral resources arrangement that Trump desires in return for the wartime support provided to Ukraine by his predecessor, Joe Biden.
This development represents the latest unexpected change during the tumultuous first month of his presidency, during which he has altered US foreign policy with moves to engage diplomatically with the Kremlin, bypassing both Ukraine and Europe.
Trump addressed attendees at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) near Washington, saying: "I am working on getting the money back or securing it. I want them to provide us something in return for all the funds we have provided. We are requesting rare earth materials and oil, anything we can obtain.
"We will reclaim our funds because it is simply unfair. We will see, but I believe we are quite close to reaching an agreement, and we need to be close because it has been an awful situation."
Earlier in the day, a source informed AFP that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was "not prepared" to endorse such an agreement, despite increasing pressure from the US.
Verbal Conflict
Trump’s special envoy Keith Kellogg, who met with Zelensky this week, indicated that the Ukrainian leader realized that signing a deal with the United States was "vital."
However, the Ukrainian source stated to AFP that Kyiv required guarantees beforehand.
"In its current form, the president is not willing to accept the draft; we are still working on modifications and looking to add constructive elements," said the source familiar with the situation.
Ukraine desires that any arrangement established with the United States includes security guarantees as it continues to confront Russia's nearly three-year invasion.
The discussions between the two nations are unfolding amidst an escalating verbal exchange between Trump and Zelensky, causing concern in Kyiv and Europe.
On Wednesday, Trump labeled his Ukrainian counterpart a "dictator" and urged him to "act quickly" to bring an end to the conflict, following talks between Russian and US officials in Saudi Arabia that excluded Kyiv.
Washington has suggested a United Nations resolution regarding the Ukraine situation that did not reference any of the territories occupied by Russia, according to diplomatic sources relayed to AFP.
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