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President Donald Trump accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of trying to "back out" of the rare earth minerals deal with the U.S. and warned of potential "big problems" should he do so.
“He’s trying to back out of the rare earth deal and if he does that he’s got some problems, big, big problems,” Trump told reporters on Air Force One Sunday (March 30) via the New York Post. “He wants to be a member of NATO, but he’s never going to be a member of NATO. He understands that.”
White House officials have been pushing for Ukraine to accept the agreement, which would see the country share its mineral deposits with the U.S. for weeks. Trump claims that the deal would serve as a repayment for the billions sent by the U.S. to Ukraine for aid during its war with Russia the past three years.
Both countries issued a joint statement last week publicly acknowledging their plans to conclude a comprehensive agreement as soon as possible. Trump had previously criticized Zelensky, claiming he was "gambling with World War III" during a back and forth exchange as the rare earth minerals deal the two world leaders were supposed to sign fell through when the Ukrainian president was asked to leave the White House earlier this month.
Trump later claimed Zelensky could come back "when he is ready for Peace" in a post shared on his Truth Social account.
“This is the worst statement that could have been made by Zelenskyy, and America will not put up with it for much longer!” Trump wrote on March 3.