Washington, DC [US]: Former US President Donald Trump has warned Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of “big problems” if he attempts to renegotiate a rare earth minerals agreement with the US, while also dismissing Ukraine’s chances of joining NATO.
Trump’s Warning on Rare Earth Deal
Speaking to reporters, Trump accused Zelenskyy of attempting to back out of the agreement and tied the issue to Ukraine’s NATO ambitions.
“I think he wants to make a deal. And I think Zelenskyy, by the way, I see he’s trying to back out of the rare earth deal. And if he does that, he’s got some problems. Big, big problems,” Trump stated.
He further emphasized:
“We made a deal on rare earth, and now he’s saying, well, you know, I want to renegotiate the deal. He wants to be a member of NATO. Well, he was never going to be a member of NATO. He understands that.”
According to CNN, the Rare Earth Deal allows the US to tap into Ukraine’s mineral resources in exchange for USD 350 billion, military equipment, and “the right to fight on.”
Trump on Putin and the Russia-Ukraine War
When asked about his current stance on Russian President Vladimir Putin amid the ongoing war, Trump denied any deterioration in their relationship, stating:
“No, I don’t think so. I don’t think he’s going to go back on his word. You’re talking about Putin. I don’t think he’s going to go back on his word. I’ve known him for a long time. We’ve always gotten along well, despite the Russia, Russia, Russia hoax.”
Tariffs on Russian Oil as Leverage?
In a separate NBC News interview, Trump revealed his frustration with Putin’s handling of the war and warned of economic consequences if no resolution is reached.
“I was very angry—pissed off—when Putin started getting into Zelenskyy’s credibility, because that’s not going in the right location,” Trump said during an interview with “Meet the Press” host Kristen Welker.
He suggested that if Putin refuses to cooperate in ending the conflict, the US could impose additional tariffs on Russian oil, potentially exerting significant financial pressure on Moscow.
“New leadership means you’re not going to have a deal for a long time, right?” Trump stated, suggesting that failure to reach an agreement could prolong the war indefinitely.
With Trump’s comments sparking fresh diplomatic tensions, global leaders will be closely monitoring his stance on Ukraine, NATO, and Russia’s economic future.