Trump on raw materials deal: Gives Ukraine “the right to keep fighting”

According to consistent media reports, the US and Ukraine have agreed to a deal on the exploitation of Ukrainian raw materials , including rare earths, which are used in the production of weapons and electronics, among other things. When asked by journalists at the White House what the deal entails, Donald Trump did not directly confirm that an agreement had been reached, but said that in return Ukraine "will receive the right to continue fighting."

When asked what Ukraine would receive as part of the deal, the US president answered specifically: "350 billion dollars and a lot of military equipment, the right to keep fighting." He then added: "Look, the Ukrainians are very brave and they are good soldiers, but without the United States and their money and their military equipment, this war would have been over in a very short time." Trump also referred to the previous arms deliveries from the USA under his predecessor Joe Biden. He had "thrown money around like it was cotton candy," Trump said. "We want that money back."

There is no official confirmation of the raw materials deal yet. The signing could take place as early as this Friday: Ukrainian PresidentVolodymyr Zelensky is due to travel to Washington then, as Trump announced. "I hear he wants to come on Friday, that's certainly fine with me if he wants to," he said.

Reports: Raw materials deal includes no security guarantees for Ukraine

The internet portal of "Ukrajinska Pravda" reported that there was a new agreement on US access to raw materials in Ukraine. In addition to the rare earths that are important for high-tech products, the agreement also concerns US access to Ukrainian oil and gas. According to a Ukrainian government representative, the agreement, which is apparently about to be concluded, stipulates that the revenues should flow into a US-Ukrainian fund managed jointly by Washington and Kiev.

The British "Financial Times" also reported on an agreement between both sides. According to the reports, the version that is supposedly ready for signature no longer mentions security guarantees from the USA, which the Ukrainian government had recently repeatedly insisted on.

There has been a heated debate about the agreement in recent days because the Ukrainian president initially refused to sign it. Selenskyj had rejected the first US draft of a raw materials agreement. He insisted above all on security guarantees from the USA. On Sunday he reiterated that he would not sign a contract that "ten generations of Ukrainians" would have to pay for. (with AFP)