Trump says US wants return on Ukraine aid money
3 Min Read
US President Donald Trump stated he is negotiating to recover or secure compensation for the billions in aid sent to Ukraine.
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President Donald Trump dances as he speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference, CPAC, at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, in Oxon Hill, Maryland (AP)
US President Donald Trump stated on Saturday that he is seeking to recover or secure compensation for the billions of dollars the US has provided to Ukraine in its war against Russia, as negotiations with Kiev over mineral resources continue.
Speaking at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), Trump criticized the structure of US aid compared to European contributions. "Europe gave it in the form of a loan.
"They get their money back. We gave it in the form of nothing," he said, emphasizing his intent to ensure the US receives something in return.
As part of the ongoing discussions, Trump revealed that the US is requesting access to Ukraine’s rare earth minerals and oil. "We’re asking for rare earth and oil—anything we can get," he said, adding that he believes a deal is close.
Trump also reiterated his goal of ending the war, stating, "I’m dealing with President Zelensky. I’m dealing with President Putin. I’m going to try and get all that death ended."
His remarks come amid growing concerns over the US's long-term role in Ukraine's defense and the future of its alliance with European partners.
'Zelensky a dictator'
Trump’s statement comes after he described Wednesday his Ukrainian counterpart as a "modestly successful comedian" and a "dictator without elections," warning that Ukraine risks losing everything unless he moves swiftly toward a peace agreement with Russia.
"He [Zelensky] refuses to have Elections, is very low in Ukrainian Polls, and the only thing he was good at was playing Biden ‘like a fiddle.’ A Dictator without Elections, Zelenskyy better move fast or he is not going to have a Country left," Trump wrote in a post on his Truth Social platform.
He asserted that his administration was successfully negotiating an end to the war with Russia, something he claimed only he and his team could achieve.
Trump concluded, "I love Ukraine, but Zelensky has done a terrible job, his Country is shattered, and MILLIONS have unnecessarily died – And so it continues….."
Trump's remarks came just hours after Zelensky pushed back against his claim that Ukraine was responsible for the ongoing war with Russia, accusing the US President of being caught in a Russian "disinformation" bubble.
