Speaking at the CPAC conference in Maryland yesterday, President Trump says the US is “pretty close” to a deal with Ukraine for its rare earth metals in exchange for the aid they provided throughout their war with Russia.
However, inside sources revealed to Sky News that President Zelenskyy is not ready and willing to accept the agreement that has been drafted.
“I want them to give us something for all the money we put up,” Mr Trump told the CPAC conference. “So we’re asking for rare earth and oil – anything we can get!”
The president claimed the US had given $350bn in aid, explaining how, unlike European countries, it was not a loan and they were due to be compensated.
“We’re going to get our money back because it’s not fair,” President Trump continued, adding that they are “pretty close to a deal. We better be close to a deal”.
Rare earth metals are used for electronic goods such as mobile phones and electric cars. However, demand is increasingly high due to doubts over their future availability.
Even though the US believes the deal is nearly done, the Ukrainian source said there were “a number of problematic issues” preventing the signing.
They said drafts did not “reflect a partnership in the agreement and contain only unilateral commitments by Ukraine”.
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