Donald Trump aimed a sharp warning with the Ukrainian President Volodyymyr Zensky, and accused him of walking away from a critical mineral agreement and to point out serious consequences if he does.
“He tries to withdraw from the rare Earth deal,” Trump said on board Air Force One on Sunday evening, referring to negotiations about the access of the US to critical minerals in Ukraine. “And if he does that, he has some problems. Big, big problems. '
The agreement would give American companies access to Ukraine's huge deposits of strategic minerals.
Trump and Zensky would sign the deal when the Ukrainian leader visited the White House. However, their meeting ended with bitterness who played for television cameras in the Oval Office.
On Sunday, Trump suggested that Zensky wanted to negotiate again about the deal 'to get better security guarantees.
“He wants to become a member of NATO,” said Trump. “Well, he would never become a member of NATO. He understands that. '
The comments, delivered during a flight back to Washington after a weekend in Mar-A-Lago, meant a dramatic turn in Trump's approach to the continuous conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
Although Trump has long pronounced admiration for Russian President Vladimir Putin, he showed irritation to both leaders on Sunday – who put Putin for holding peace negotiations and Zelensky for what he described as badness.
President Trump aimed a sharp warning with the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zensky who accused him of trying to run away from a critical mineral agreement and to point out serious consequences if he does. Depicted, Trump speaks to the press while he is on Air Force One
Trump suggested on Sunday that Zensky, depicted, wanted to negotiate the deal 'to get better security guarantees
Although Trump has long pronounced admiration for President Vladimir Putin, shown, he seemed irritated by the Russian leader on Sunday
The Biden administration had previously supported a framework agreement to give Ukraine post-war a way to NATO membership, but Trump repeatedly rejected that idea, with the argument that such promises escalate the conflict without offering meaningful protection to Kiev.
Trump's comments come when Ukraine is confronted with an intensified Russian bombing and as the negotiations of the cease -the fire becomes more diligent.
During the weekend, Russian drones met a military hospital and residential areas in Kharkiv, in which two were killed and tens of injuries.
Ukrainian officials have warned that Moscow is ceasing -the fire -conversations used as a blocking tactic while preparing a new offensive.
Despite the fact that he expressed frustration about Putin's delays, Trump defended his long -standing relationship with the Russian leader.
“I don't think he's going back to his word,” Trump said. “I've known him for a long time. We have always died well. '
But his clearest message on Sunday was aimed at KYIV, in which Trump made it clear that access to the mineral wealth of Ukraine is a strategic necessity for the US and one that he does not want to see slipping away.
“He ends from that deal,” Trump said about Zensky, “and we'll see how difficult things can be.”
Trump and Zelsy would sign the deal when the Ukrainian leader visited the White House. Their meeting, however, ended with bitterness who played for television cameras in the Oval Office
Previously, Trump expressed his struggle to forge a truce with both the Russian and Ukrainian leaders to end the war.
Although Trump stated that reporters 'we make a lot of progress', he acknowledged that 'there is a huge hatred' between the two men, a new indication that negotiations cannot cause the rapid conclusion that he promised during the campaign.
Trump started to express his criticism in an early morning interview with NBC News while he was on Mar-A-Lago.
He said he was 'angry, p **** ed' that Putin questioned Zensky's credibility.
The Russian leader recently said that Zensky misses the legitimacy to sign a peace agreement and suggested that Ukraine needed external administration.
Trump said he would consider adding new sanctions to Russia, which are already confronted with steep financial fines, and the use of rates to undermine the oil export.
Putin said during a visit to Murmansk, Russia on Friday that Ukraine needs new leadership – but the country does not allow elections while it is under siege
The Republican President rarely criticizes Putin and he has previously attacked Zensky's credibility himself.
Earlier this year, Trump suggested that Ukraine caused war that started three years ago with a Russian invasion, and he insisted that Zensky should hold elections, although it is illegal under the constitution of Ukraine to do this during the state of siege.
On his flight back to Washington on Sunday evening, Trump repeated his annoyance towards Putin, but he softened his tone somewhat.
“I don't think he's going back to his word,” he said. “I've known him for a long time. We have always died well. '
Asked when he wanted Russia to agree with a cease -firing, Trump said there was a “psychological deadline.”
“If I think they are ticking us, I will not be happy with it,” he said.
