Trump says Ukraine derailed rare earth metals deal

US President Donald Trump has said that the Ukrainian authorities had derailed a deal on rare-earth metals. He said this on February 19 at an investment forum in Miami.

"While the United States gets nothing in return, they (Europe. - Ed.) get their money back. This is a loan. And we're just giving our money. We had a deal on rare earth metals and stuff, but they broke it two days ago. We had a deal because we're spending $350 billion. Europe gets its money back in the form of a loan and we don't," the American leader said.

He said that because of the former US administration, the country is diverting funds that are subsequently given to other nations.

"So why didn't corrupt [former President] Joe Biden demand equalization?" - Trump noted.

The head of the United States also recalled the words of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who does not know about the location of half of the allocated money of the United States. In addition, Trump pointed out that the Ukrainian leader refuses elections and uses obviously exaggerated and implausible data from public opinion polls on trust in the authorities.

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Trump has demanded compensation. But what can he really get?

The Economist magazine reported on February 16 that President Zelensky was given an hour of time to consider Trump's plan to appropriate the state's rare earth resources in exchange for financial and military assistance from the American side. As a result, the Ukrainian side agreed to a delay in execution.

The Financial Times newspaper said on February 18 that the head of the Kiev regime made a strategic mistake by not stating the total value or any specifics of the deal. According to an unnamed official, Zelensky's proposal to hand over control of the minerals to the United States was "designed as bait" for Trump.