Trump on minerals deal: It will bring significant revenues to US
US President Donald Trump called the rare earth elements deal "great" for Ukraine and one that will bring the US "great wealth."
He said this during a meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers on Wednesday, 26 February, Voice of America reports, Censor.NET reports.
Trump noted that the agreement "concerns rare earth elements and other related matters."
According to him, the agreement signed with Kyiv is expected to allow the US to recoup the funds spent on aid to Ukraine and will also "generate significant revenues in the future."
"And I think it's appropriate because we have taxpayers who shouldn't have to foot the bill, and they shouldn't be paying more than Europeans do. So everything is settled. We're pleased with it, and I believe it's very important that we were able to finalize this deal," the President said.
Additionally, Trump emphasized that the deal would bring the US "great wealth," but noted that the primary objective was to stop the killings.
"This is a great deal for Ukraine as well, because we will be there. We will work there. We will be there. And thus, it is automatic security, because no one will touch our people when we are there. That's how our presence will be. But Europe will be watching this very closely. I know that the UK has said and France has said that they want to put, they have agreed to put peacekeepers on the ground (in Ukraine - ed.), and I think that's good," Trump said.
As a reminder, Trump also confirmed that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will arrive in Washington on Friday, 28 February, to sign an agreement on rare earth metals.
As a reminder, on 26 February, the media published the full text of the agreement between Ukraine and the United States on minerals. The main provisions of the document have already been agreed.
Minerals agreement with the US
As a reminder, Trump has said he wants to sign a $500 billion deal with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on access to rare earth resources and natural gas in Ukraine in exchange for security guarantees in any potential peace settlement.
President Zelenskyy said that the agreement with the US on minerals would be signed at the ministerial level when ready and subject to guarantees. Currently, this document is not ready to protect Ukraine's interest.
Later, Trump said that Ukraine had undermined the rare earth metals deal. The agreement was needed so that the United States could recover the money spent on supporting Ukraine.
The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has handed over to Ukraine an "improved" draft of the minerals agreement that "complies with Ukrainian law."
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that if the US wants to see specific numbers in the minerals agreement, then according to Ukrainian law, ratification by the Verkhovna Rada will be required.
On 25 February, the Financial Times reported that Ukraine and the United States had agreed on the terms of a deal on minerals, and Kyiv was ready to sign the document.
