U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a stark warning to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, cautioning him against backing out of a rare earth minerals agreement between their countries.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday, Trump said, “I think Zelenskyy is trying to back out of the rare earth deal, and if he does that, he’s got some problems—big, big problems.”
The deal, initially announced by Trump on March 20, was set to grant the United States access to Ukraine’s valuable mineral resources. However, tensions have risen as Zelenskyy reportedly seeks to renegotiate the terms.
“He wants to be a member of NATO. Well, he was never going to be a member of NATO. He understands that,” Trump remarked. “So, if he’s looking to renegotiate the deal, he’s got big problems.”
The agreement was originally scheduled to be signed in Washington at the end of February but was delayed after a tense exchange between the two leaders at the White House. Last Friday, Zelenskyy revealed that Ukraine received a new draft of the minerals deal from Washington, stating that its terms were “entirely different” from the earlier agreement he was set to sign.
The rare earth minerals deal is significant, as these minerals are crucial components in many modern technologies, from smartphones to electric vehicles. The unfolding situation adds a new layer of complexity to U.S.-Ukraine relations and raises questions about future cooperation between the two nations.
