Summary
Donald Trump stated that U.S. aid to Ukraine should be compensated with $500 billion worth of its mineral resources, including rare earth elements.
He claimed Ukraine had “essentially agreed” to this arrangement. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has hinted at allowing U.S. access to these resources to maintain support.
The idea aligns with Ukraine’s “victory plan” for post-war recovery.
Trump’s comments drew criticism, with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz condemning his approach as “very egotistic, very self-centered.”
What Biden gave them was peanuts. Enough to not lose everything. But not enough to take back the territory when the opportunity was there, and seemingly not even enough to hold the line as it is anymore. The only equipment they ever gave in large quantity for fighting a mechanized war was the himars launchers and ammunition and maybe the Bradleys.
Make no mistake, America NEVER had any intention of helping Ukraine win.