President Trump said Monday that he’s looking to reach an agreement with Ukraine that will guarantee US access to rare earth minerals in the country in exchange for continued US military aid.
“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,” Trump told reporters at the Oval Office. “We want a guarantee. We’re handing them money, hand over fist.”
The president suggested Ukraine would agree to such a proposal. “I want to have security of rare earth,” he said. “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.”
Trump also said that European countries should be paying more for military aid to Ukraine to get on an equal level of spending with the US. “Europe is not keeping up with us. They should equalize,” he said.
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) has frequently brought up Ukraine’s rare earth minerals as a reason to continue fueling the proxy war.
“This war is about money. People don’t talk much about it. But you know, the richest country in all of Europe for rare earth minerals is Ukraine. Two to seven trillion dollars’ worth of minerals that are rare earth minerals, very relevant to the 21st century,” Graham told Fox News host Sean Hannity in November. “Ukraine’s ready to do a deal with us, not the Russians. So it’s in our interest to make sure that Russia doesn’t take over the place.”
Graham added that he expected Trump to “do a deal to get our money back, to enrich ourselves with rare earth minerals. A good deal for Ukraine and us.”
Trump has repeatedly said he wants to end the war in Ukraine, but his rare earth mineral proposal suggests he’s planning to continue military aid for some time. Ukrainian media published what’s purported to be Trump’s plan to end the war, which calls for the US to continue military aid to Ukraine after a peace deal, but it’s unlikely Russia would agree to that, or at least any substantial US support for the Ukrainian military.
Lots of the rare earth deposits are in the Russian part of Ukraine. Our USA is not going to be assisting Ukraine in any offensive military operations. That is over. If Ukraine shoots any more missiles into Russia, they can expect Trump to punish them.
And under trump's leadership there is a good chance the Ukraine will fall to Russia. And when that happens it will be trump's fault. It took trump only three weeks to messed up the FAA staffing and look what happen?
Some oblasts are being liberated. The US interfered and armed the losing side in the Ukrainian Civil War. Russia was thus dragged into a civil war reluctantly and victory is happening now.
Some Oblast are being liberated?
Lol, that's what the Kremlin tells themselves.
I'm sure the same oblasts wished they were back in Ukraine as they have been forced to be cannon fodders for the supreme leader.
Most rare earth is in Russian-held parts of Ukraine now. What is Trump doing? Luring Ukraine into stupid troop-killing maneuvers to try to retake them?
And after whatever "aid" he can come up with has no effect, he will have to negotiate with Russia for the rare earths….guaranteed!!
Closing USAID was too quick?
I told you. It seems no matter who is President, our foreign policy is dictated by Lindsey Graham.
One of the few people with specific experience in this level of open bloody-handed Ukrainian resource-based corruption is Hunter Biden.
He should be retained to consult the master of the deal.
JFC, the greed level is off the charts. And Trump is playing too close to bringing us back to potential nuclear war.
Yes, because by now he really does believe that he has been chosen by God not only to make America great again but by conquering and saving the world. So far the word is caving, actually believing his threats.
My other thought is that this is a veiled brokering of conditions with Russia. If Agnieszka Pilchowa is correct that the minerals are in the Russian controlled portion of Ukraine, is access of resources being proposed as a condition for Russia in actuality for “peace negotiations” v Ukraine?
Since NATO hasn’t proven it can beat Russia without resorting to catastrophic methods, the next best strategy is engagement to separate the alliance with BRICS, but especially China.
Peace through
strengthextortion.Best negotiations are always conducted at the barrel of a gun. US is very skilled at that. And other creative extortion gives the whole atmosphere a nice touch.
Putin is the 'expert' at that, hence his failed invasion.
Hahaha, but NO.
Just take minerals from the Ukraine, oil from the Middle East, Diamonds form Africa and the US will live happily ever after with Trump as king for life and plenty of other Trumps available thereafter.
This is great. Let's start another world war. Timing is right. So much policy blunders will be buried under the rubble and history rewriting will remain a favourite sport in the west.
Ukrainian rare earth deposits, grain rich lands, vast natural gas and oil plus warm water ports are the real reasons Putin invaded and doesn't care losing millions of soldiers to get it.
The rest of the reasons are pure BS to justify their disastrous invasion.
LOL you precious child, Russia is not in it for resources, they already have the world's largest reserves. What they want is security, but it's clear you can't acknowledge the threat US gov't and private interventionism presents to the rest of the world.
The so called second strongest army in the world, a super power with millions of nukes needs security?
Awww, now I understand the invasion.
Do you also need a blanket and cocoa?
Russia needs security. That's terrible.
Hahaha.
No. Russia doesn't have "millions of nukes". That's exponentially wrong.
Sure, you also missed the point.
The USA is an island, surrounded by water and thousands of miles away from China and Russia. Back in 1962, it needed security as well.
Just FYI, you sound like an insolent teenager
Trump : “I want to have security of rare earth,” he said. “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. Final President. Please name me a SINGLE rare-earth element. Any one. Just one. One.
He won't name any. He just calls Putin and he will name them all because Putin knows better than anybody, the good stuff that lies in Ukraine's land.
Same reason Putin has sent most of his army to its death in Ukraine.
I don’t think Trump CAN name any. I think someone said the phrase “rare earth minerals” and The Donald thought gold, frankincense & myrrh and saw an opportunity for massive profit next Christmas.
He’s referring to rock band Rare Earth…!
All the pieces fit ! Good eye !
This is one of the major causes of this war:
This is just as stupid as Trumps version of a star wars/iron dome defense, his idiotic tariffs, Canada as a 51st state, AI gambit and a sovereign wealth fund based on an public private partnership.
The US spent $ trillions in the Middle East on defending the oil fields there, killed millions, displaced other millions lost thousands of American lives when trading for oil would have been cheaper and FAR less destructive.
So, now he wants to defend rare earth sources by spending $ billions??? And getting a lot of people killed.
TRADE for it. You don't have to like who you're trading with.
As far as I know, those rare earths are in the part of Ukraine controlled by Russia.
Trump is such a fool…! First he wanted to end the war in 24 hours. Then, his team talked about 100 days, and now he is repeating Lady Lindsey statement to steal Ukraine rare earth minerals…! He is afraid China would completely halt their exports to US….! What he doesn't know is that China is 10 years ahead of US in the Processing Facilities of these rare earth elements…! By then, China would be the the World Number One economy and rule the world economically…!
Trump the moneybag represents the nation as it really is, the only value the ruling regime of greedy oligarchs knows. They are choking on their money and still want more. He wants Gaza, is funding the total destruction and expects the Arabs to pay for the rebuilding. The man is crazy, greedy, and as evil as Netanyahu and Biden, insane sadists, all three of them.