Trump open to US troops in Ukraine, but with one condition – NBC News
Photo: US President Donald Trump (Getty Images)
The administration of US President Donald Trump is open to the possibility of deploying American troops to Ukraine. However, this would be conditional on the troops guarding rare-earth mineral deposits to which they would gain access, according to NBC News.
According to four American officials, Trump has proposed that Ukraine grant the US 50% rights to rare-earth minerals. The US administration made it clear that it is willing to deploy American troops to protect the minerals if a peace agreement with Russia is reached.
Two sources indicated that an agreement granting access to half of the rare earth minerals would provide Ukraine with a way to compensate the US for the military aid it has received.
Three American officials added that many of Ukraine's mineral resources are located in territories currently controlled by Russian forces.
Ukrainian officials stated that Zelenskyy has long supported the idea of exchanging critical resources for continued US support, calling it part of the victory plan he presented to partners and personally to Trump during their meeting last fall.
Agreement on rare earths minerals
This week, US Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent visited Ukraine. He brought with him an agreement concerning rare-earth metals.
The partnership agreement was to be finalized before its approval. According to the Ukrainian delegation in Munich, on February 14, Ukraine submitted the revised draft memorandum to the US side.
A Washington Post journalist reported that the US is allegedly offering for Ukraine to grant them 50% of rights to rare-earth minerals. According to him, President Zelensky refused to sign the agreement.
The President's Office, following discussions between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and US Vice President JD Vance, stated that the parties agreed to continue working on the partnership document.
