President Donald Trump said he will continue to provide Ukraine with aid because otherwise “Putin would say he’s won.”
Speaking to the press at the White House, Trump discussed continuing to provide assistance to Ukraine if he secures a deal that would allow the U.S. access to Kyiv’s rare earth materials, according to a CSPAN video of his remarks.
Newsweek reached out to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine for comment via email.
Why It Matters
Trump has previously criticized the Biden administration for sending aid to Ukraine, and with his return to the Oval Office, many questioned if the U.S. would continue supporting Kyiv.
In total, the Biden administration sent $65.9 billion to Ukraine from February 2022 onward, making the U.S. the biggest contributor to Kyiv’s war efforts. The administration had $3.8 billion that it could not allocate to Ukraine prior to leaving the White House, and many speculated if the funding would continue going to Ukraine during Trump’s second term.
What to Know
Trump spoke to reporters after Tulsi Gabbard was confirmed as the national director of intelligence and hinted at continuing to provide aid to Ukraine if his rare earth materials deal is successful. After criticizing the Biden administration’s provision of aid to Ukraine, he said: “We’re getting security on our money, we’re going to have it secured, they have rare earth, oil and gas, and they have a lot of other things we’re asking for security on our money.”
When asked if he would cease sending funds to Ukraine, Trump said: “No, we are, but we want it secured, and the money is going to be secured” and he added, “because if we didn’t do that, then Putin would say he won. We’re the thing that’s holding it back and frankly, we’ll go as long as we have to go because we’re not going to let the other happen.”
Trump’s first remark about “securing” the U.S.’ money references a possible deal with Ukraine to access its rare earth materials, which the president has spoken about at length recently. He has previously said he told Ukraine he wants “the equivalent of $500 billion of rare earth” in return for U.S. aid, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that he is open to pursuing this deal.
Rare earths are a group of 17 metals are vital for the manufacture of high-performance magnets, electric motors, missile systems and consumer electronics. Ukraine has deposits of 22 of 34 minerals that the EU has designated as critical, and Kyiv’s victory plan includes supplying partners with “natural resources and critical metals worth trillions of U.S. dollars,” including uranium, titanium, lithium and graphite.
What People Are Saying
In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Anonymous, the activist hacker group, wrote: “The Kremlin-linked Donald Trump blackmailed Ukraine (again), threatening to withhold aid unless it provides him and his corporate oligarchs with $500B in rare earth material or equivalent contracts. Hours later he praised Russia. 90% of US Ukraine aid is already reimbursed before delivery.”
Michael Tracey, a journalist, wrote on X: “Of note here: Trump says “Frankly, we’ll go as long as we have to go” in terms of sending “aid” to Ukraine — which sounds like a variation of the “as long as it takes” mantra from the Biden Administration.”
Marc Owen Jones, an associate professor at Northwestern University in Qatar, wrote on X: “If Ukraine have to pay for US military equipment/aid with rare earth minerals how are Israel going to pay the US for all the military equipment? Is it free cos Israel is so special, or is that why Trump is talking about colonising Gaza.”
What Happens Next
Whether or not a deal can be reached between the U.S. and Ukraine regarding access to Kyiv’s rare earth materials in exchange for continued American aid prior to peace negotiations remains to be seen. Trump recently said that he may meet with Zelensky in Washington next week.
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