DONALD Trump has bluntly declared that Ukraine can “forget about” joining NATO, blaming the alliance for triggering the ongoing conflict.
It comes as Volodymyr Zelensky is set to sign a major agreement before meeting Trump in Washington, in what the US leader called a “great deal for Ukraine.”
The deal – said to be worth up to $ 500 billion – is seen as a way for Ukraine to get the US back on its side ahead of talks on ending the war with Russia.
The President made the comments at his cabinet meeting on Wednesday – his very first since his inauguration last month.
He boldly declared that war-ravaged Ukraine could “forget about” joining NATO, blaming the alliance for sparking the conflict.
“You can forget about it. That’s probably the reason the whole thing started,” Trump told reporters.
He went on to say how America will benefit from the minerals deal as the country will “get back their money”.
“The deal we’re making brings us great wealth,” Trump said.
“We get back the money that we spent, and we hope that we’re going to be able to settle this up.”
But when pressed on security guarantees for Ukraine, Trump made it clear he’s not offering much.
“I’m not going to make security guarantees beyond very much,” he said.
“We’re going to have Europe do that because… we’re talking about Europe is their next-door neighbour, but we’re making sure everything goes well.”
Trump insisted the deal would benefit Ukraine too, claiming it would provide “automatic security.”
“Nobody’s going to be messing around with people when we’re there,” he added.
His comments come ahead of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s visit to the US on Friday.
Earlier today, Zelenskyy confirmed he will meet Trump in DC to sign the historic minerals deal with the US.
But he warned that peace is impossible without firm security guarantees.
“We will not have a really just peace,” he said. “We want to have a ceasefire but if we don’t have security nothing will work.”
The crucial meeting between the two leaders will mark their first face-to-face chat since Trump labelled Zelensky a “dictator”.
Zelensky today said that the proposed deal was a starting point for a wider agreement, as Kyiv hopes for eventual security guarantees from Washington.
He said that he expects to have a wide-ranging conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump during a visit to Washington.
The leader said: “This is just a start, a framework, it can be a big success. I would like to have this visit very much.
“The success will depend on our conversation with President Trump.”
Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal confirmed that Kyiv and Washington have reached a preliminary agreement on a broad economic deal that includes US access to Ukraine’s rare earth minerals.
The preliminary agreement sets out the terms and conditions of an investment fund for the rebuilding of Ukraine, according to Shmyhal.
However, Zelensky added that Ukraine needs to know first where the United States stands on its continued military support.
Trump told reporters in the Oval Office: “I hear that he’s coming on Friday, certainly it’s okay with me if he’d like to.”
Kyiv hopes the deal will improve relations with the Trump administration, bolster long-term security ties and draw the Ukraine war closer to an end.
The agreement reportedly says that the US supports Ukraine’s efforts to obtain security guarantees needed to establish lasting peace.
“Participants will seek to identify any necessary steps to protect mutual investments as defined in the … agreement,” it says.
A White House official made clear again Wednesday after Zelenskyy spoke that accepting the agreement was a necessary precondition of Trump’s invitation to Zelensky to meet on Friday.
This agreement may either be a great success or quietly fade away,” Zelensky said.
“And I believe success depends on our conversation with President Trump. I want to coordinate with the US.”
Zelensky said the main topics that he wants to discuss with Trump are whether the US plans to halt military aid and if Ukraine would be able to purchase weapons directly from the US.
He also wants to know whether Ukraine can use frozen Russian assets for the purchase of weapons and investments and whether Washington plans to lift sanctions on Russia.
NEGOTIATING WITH PUTIN
Trump also suggested NATO may be to blame for the war in Ukraine while describing Vladimir Putin as “cunning.”
Asked about negotiating with the Russian leader, Trump told reporters at his cabinet meeting: “He’s a very smart guy, he’s a very cunning person.”
“I’ve dealt with some really bad people but I will tell you as far as this is concerned, he had no intention, in my opinion, of settling this war,” he said.
“I think he wanted the whole thing. When I got elected, we spoke, and I think we’re going to have a deal.”
Trump went on to claim that if he hadn’t been elected, “I believe he [Putin] would have just continued to go through Ukraine.”
“Over a period of time, a lot of people would have been killed,” he added.
A BIG DEAL
The original terms, which President Trump framed as a way for Ukraine to repay the US for military and financial aid since Russia’s 2022 invasion, were met with fierce backlash.
The final version of any deal, dated February 24 and seen by the FT, will establish a fund into which Ukraine will contribute 50 per cent of proceeds from future monetisation of state-owned mineral resources.
However, it excludes existing revenue streams from key producers like Naftogaz and Ukrnafta.
Crucially, it leaves unresolved details on the US stake in the fund and terms of joint ownership, which will be determined in future negotiations.
Ukraine has long relied on the US as its primary military aid donor to help it stand up to Putin during his illegal invasion.
Since taking office in January however, Trump has dramatically shifted Washington’s approach and has held direct talks with Russia without involving Ukraine or European allies.
Officials said the agreement has already been approved by Ukraine’s justice, economy, and foreign ministries.
“This will be a chance for the president to discuss what the bigger picture is. And then after it, we will be able to think of the next steps,” a Ukrainian official told the FT.
ON THE WRONG FOOT
Trump and Zelensky’s upcoming meeting will have the eyes of the world watching with the two leaders sharing a turbulent relationship for years.
Just days ago, the US President warned “modestly successful comedian” Zelensky must “move fast or he is not going to have a country left”.
He also branded the leader a “dictator” last week, for not holding an election during the war.
During peace talks between the US and Russia held last week, both parties agreed that elections should be held in Ukraine before a final peace deal is achieved.
The proposal has sparked speculation Zelensky could be ousted and a pro-Russian leadership could be installed in Kyiv.
The brave Ukrainian President vowed to step down “immediately” in exchange for peace or Nato membership.
However, Ukraine voted for Volodymyr Zelensky to remain the country’s President “indefinitely” under martial law defying Donald Trump.
Trump emphasised calls for a fresh election in Ukraine did not come from Russia – but from him.
He said: “We have a situation where we haven’t had elections in Ukraine, where we have martial law, essentially martial law in Ukraine, where the leader in Ukraine, I mean, I hate to say it, but he’s down at 4 per cent approval rating, and where a country has been blown to smithereens.
“If Ukraine wants a seat at the table, wouldn’t the people have to say it has been a long time since they had an election?
“That’s not a Russian thing, that’s something coming from me and coming from many other countries also.”
Trump also said he was “disappointed” Zelensky had complained about being left out of talks.
He suggested Ukraine should have been willing to make concessions to Russia before the 2022 invasion, adding: “Today I heard, ‘Oh, well, we weren’t invited’. Well, you been there for three years.
“You should have ended it three years [ago]. You should have never started it. You could have made a deal.”
TARIFFS ON EU
Trump has declared a 25% tariff on European imports, taking aim at the European Union and accusing it of unfair trade practices.
“We have made a decision, we will be announcing it very soon, it will be 25 percent generally speaking,” he told reporters during the White House cabinet meeting on Wednesday.
“It will be on cars and all of the things.”
The president has long complained about the EU’s 10% tariff on American cars while the US only imposes 2.5% on European vehicles.
Now, he’s hitting back.
“I love the countries of Europe, I love all countries frankly, all different, but the European Union, it was formed in order to screw the United States, I mean look let’s be honest,” Trump said.
He dismissed EU threats of retaliation, insisting their response would be ineffective.
“They can’t, but they can try,” he said.
“The numbers can never equal what ours, because we can go off. We are the pot of gold, we are the one that everyone wants.
“They can retaliate but it can not be a successful retaliation because we just go cold turkey, we don’t buy anymore.”
The announcement comes after French President Emmanuel Macron visited Washington to discuss Ukraine and trade relations.
Macron admitted he urged Trump to hold off on escalating a trade war, warning that Europe needed to focus on defense spending instead.
“The emergency is to increase our defense and security expenditures. How do you want us to increase our defense and security expenditures if we are in a trade war?” Macron asked.
Trump, however, seems undeterred, doubling down on his aggressive trade stance as he kicks off his second term.
