Donald Trump wants Ukraine’s rare earth elements as condition of further support

Donald Trump has indicated that he wants to reach an agreement with Ukraine to gain access to the country’s rare earth materials as a condition for continuing US support for its war against Russia.

Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, the president complained that the US had sent more in military and economic assistance to Ukraine than its European partners, adding: “We’re looking to do a deal with Ukraine where they’re going to secure what we’re giving them with their rare earth and other things.”

He suggested he has received word from the Ukrainian government that it would be willing to make a deal to give the US access to the elements critical to the modern hi-tech economy.

“We’re putting in hundreds of billions of dollars. They have great rare earth. And I want security of the rare earth, and they’re willing to do it.”

Mr Trump, who had previously said he would bring about a rapid end to the war, said talks are ongoing to bring the conflict to a close.

“We made a lot of progress on Russia, Ukraine,” he said. “We’ll see what happens. We’re going to stop that ridiculous war.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told the Associated Press on Saturday that any negotiations between the US and Russia but without his country were unacceptable.

“They may have their own relations, but talking about Ukraine without us — it is dangerous for everyone,” he said.

He said his team has been in contact with the Trump administration, but those discussions are at a “general level”, and he believes in-person meetings will take place soon to develop more detailed agreements.

“We need to work more on this,” Mr Zelensky said.

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