Trump makes first statement following US-Ukraine minerals deal
Photo: US President Donald Trump (Getty Images)
US President Donald Trump has commented on the minerals deal for the first time since Ukraine and the US signed it. He believes the US will get more than it puts in, NewsNation reports.
Asked whether the deal could somehow deter Russia's Vladimir Putin, Trump said, "Well, it could."
"We made a deal today that we'll get, you know, much more in theory than $350 billion, but I wanted to be protected," Trump said.
That's the amount his predecessor, Joe Biden, gave Ukraine in cash and military equipment, he said. Trump reiterated that the United States has given Ukraine far more aid than Europe.
Trump said he told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during their meeting at the Vatican before the funeral of Pope Francis that it would be a very good thing if he signed the deal because "Russia is much bigger and much stronger."
Ukraine-US minerals deal
Ukraine and the United States have signed an economic cooperation agreement, better known as the minerals deal. Under this agreement, the United States will gain access to Ukraine's resources, but control will remain with Ukraine.
A Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund will also be established jointly with the United States. Its management will be divided 50/50, and neither party will have a majority vote.
Earlier, on April 17, Ukraine and the United States signed a memorandum that recorded the countries' common intentions to conclude a large-scale economic partnership agreement.
The partnership agreement must be ratified by the Ukrainian Parliament.
