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Thursday, Apr 03, 2025
Outside the box.
Trump Warns Zelenskyy Over Potential Minerals Deal Withdrawal
US President suggests serious repercussions if Ukraine's leader reneges on rare earth mineral agreement
US President Donald Trump has stated that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy could face "big, big problems" should he withdraw from a rare earth mineral deal with the United States.
Trump's comments were made during a flight from Florida to Washington, where he accused Zelenskyy of attempting to renegotiate the terms of an agreement designed to provide the US access to Ukraine's rare earth minerals, which are critical for various high-tech industries.
Trump's remarks come against the backdrop of ongoing tensions between Ukraine and Russia, as well as the recent comments made by Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding Zelenskyy's legitimacy as a leader.
Trump expressed frustration over Putin's remarks, which he perceived as a direct attack on Zelenskyy's authority, particularly in light of the legal obstacles facing Ukraine's governance under martial law.
The US president emphasized that while there has been notable progress in discussions surrounding Ukraine and Russia, significant animosity remains between Zelenskyy and Putin.
He underscored that this strife may hinder any swift resolution to the conflict, despite his earlier campaign promises regarding negotiations.
In a prior interview, Trump indicated that if a peace deal fails to materialize, he intends to impose secondary sanctions on Russia and introduce tariffs ranging from 25 to 50 percent on Russian oil.
He highlighted that anyone purchasing oil from Russia would be barred from selling their products in the United States.
Despite expressing anger towards Putin's comments about Zelenskyy's credibility, Trump softened his tone regarding their relationship, suggesting that trusted ties may exist between him and the Russian leader.
He articulated that he does not expect Putin to retract his commitments, based on their long-standing association.
Trump also addressed recent attacks in Ukraine, noting the devastating impact of Russian drones on various civilian and military targets, including a military hospital in Kharkiv, which resulted in casualties and injuries among both civilians and service members.
Zelenskyy has reported that numerous regions across Ukraine have faced increased Russian aggression in recent days, alleging that Russia is deliberately prolonging the conflict and using ceasefire negotiations merely as a strategy to gain more territory in the ongoing war.
Trump's comments were made during a flight from Florida to Washington, where he accused Zelenskyy of attempting to renegotiate the terms of an agreement designed to provide the US access to Ukraine's rare earth minerals, which are critical for various high-tech industries.
Trump's remarks come against the backdrop of ongoing tensions between Ukraine and Russia, as well as the recent comments made by Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding Zelenskyy's legitimacy as a leader.
Trump expressed frustration over Putin's remarks, which he perceived as a direct attack on Zelenskyy's authority, particularly in light of the legal obstacles facing Ukraine's governance under martial law.
The US president emphasized that while there has been notable progress in discussions surrounding Ukraine and Russia, significant animosity remains between Zelenskyy and Putin.
He underscored that this strife may hinder any swift resolution to the conflict, despite his earlier campaign promises regarding negotiations.
In a prior interview, Trump indicated that if a peace deal fails to materialize, he intends to impose secondary sanctions on Russia and introduce tariffs ranging from 25 to 50 percent on Russian oil.
He highlighted that anyone purchasing oil from Russia would be barred from selling their products in the United States.
Despite expressing anger towards Putin's comments about Zelenskyy's credibility, Trump softened his tone regarding their relationship, suggesting that trusted ties may exist between him and the Russian leader.
He articulated that he does not expect Putin to retract his commitments, based on their long-standing association.
Trump also addressed recent attacks in Ukraine, noting the devastating impact of Russian drones on various civilian and military targets, including a military hospital in Kharkiv, which resulted in casualties and injuries among both civilians and service members.
Zelenskyy has reported that numerous regions across Ukraine have faced increased Russian aggression in recent days, alleging that Russia is deliberately prolonging the conflict and using ceasefire negotiations merely as a strategy to gain more territory in the ongoing war.
