Former U.S. President Donald Trump has suggested that Ukraine could eventually fall under Russian control, while advocating for the war-ravaged nation to share its natural resources in exchange for American financial assistance.
Speaking to Fox News on Monday, Trump, whose potential return to the White House has cast uncertainty over U.S. aid to Ukraine, claimed he had proposed that Kyiv provide "$500 billion worth of rare earth" minerals. According to him, Ukrainian officials had "essentially agreed" to the arrangement.
"Ukraine possesses immensely valuable land, rich in rare earth elements, oil, gas, and other resources," Trump said. "I want our money secured because we’re spending hundreds of billions of dollars."
Referring to Ukraine’s uncertain future, he added, "They might strike a deal, or they might not. They may end up being Russian someday, or maybe they won’t. But with all this money being sent, I want to make sure we get it back."
Trump, who has consistently pushed for a swift resolution to the war, had earlier suggested the possibility of meeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the coming days.
Meanwhile, CNN reported that Trump’s remarks are likely to be well-received by the Kremlin, which has unlawfully annexed four Ukrainian regions since launching its invasion.
The U.S. envoy to Ukraine and Russia, General Keith Kellogg, announced plans to discuss a vision for peace in Ukraine with allies at the Munich Security Conference, scheduled for February 14-16. Four days later, Kellogg is expected to visit Kyiv, as reported by Ukrainian state media.
Trump’s comments drew a response from Moscow.
When Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, it was widely believed that Ukrainian forces would be quickly overpowered. However, nearly three years later, Russian troops control only about 20 percent of Ukraine’s territory.
In 2023, the Kremlin conducted a contentious referendum in the occupied regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson, attempting to justify its annexation.
Despite international condemnation, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov defended the referendum, claiming that many Ukrainians willingly participated despite security risks. "A significant portion of Ukraine already wishes to become part of Russia," Peskov stated on Tuesday, calling the probability of Ukraine eventually joining Russia "about 50 percent." However, global observers dismissed the referendum as nothing more than a propaganda exercise, as reported by CNN.
During his Fox News interview, Trump also asserted that his administration had made "tremendous progress" in setting the stage for potential peace talks between Russia and Ukraine.
President Zelensky acknowledged that representatives from Trump’s circle were expected to visit Ukraine before the Munich Security Conference, where he is likely to meet with U.S. Senator J.D. Vance.
Reiterating his stance, Trump emphasized that any U.S. investment in Ukraine should come with a guaranteed return, particularly in the form of the country’s natural resources.
Read also| Bangladesh Chief Adviser Yunus Assures BNP of Elections by December
Read also| Bangladesh Election Commissioner Pledges to Maintain Neutrality in Polls
