Trump seeks compensation from Ukraine for US aid
What's the story
United States President Donald Trump has announced that he intends to recover money from the billions of dollars in aid given to Ukraine amid its war with Russia. Speaking at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) near Washington, he said, "I'm trying to get the money back, or secured." "I want them to give us something for all of the money that we put up. We're asking for rare earth and oil, anything we can get," he added.
Deal resistance
Ukraine resists proposed deal, seeks security guarantees
However, the proposed deal has faced resistance from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who is reportedly "not ready" to sign as he lacks security guarantees. A source close to the matter said that Kyiv is seeking changes to the draft agreement. Trump's special envoy, Keith Kellogg, acknowledged Zelenskyy's need for assurances while emphasizing the importance of this deal for Ukraine.
Rising tensions
Trump labels Zelensky a 'dictator,' demands compensation
Tensions between Trump and Zelenskyy have reached a boiling point, with the former calling the latter a "dictator" and pushing him to speed up efforts to end the war. The rhetoric has raised alarm bells among European allies. The US president's demand for "$500 billion worth" of rare earth minerals as compensation has been met with skepticism by Ukraine, which questions the fairness of such a request.
Aid details
US aid to Ukraine exceeds $60 billion, reports suggest
The US has given more than $60 billion in military aid to Ukraine since Russia invaded. However, the Kiel Institute estimates that total US aid stands at around $119.8 billion when factoring in financial and humanitarian assistance. Amid these developments, European leaders are worried about Trump's hardening attitude toward Ukraine and his overtures toward Moscow.
Diplomatic visits
European leaders express concern over Trump's approach
French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer also plan visits to Washington to express their concerns over Trump's attitude toward Ukraine and his overtures toward Moscow. Both the leaders hope to dissuade Trump from rushing into a ceasefire with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Meanwhile, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also spoke to Trump about the Ukraine conflict and other issues like combating illegal fentanyl trade.