Zelenskiy Rejects US Demand for $500 Billion in Mineral Wealth

U.S. Proposal Lacks Security Guarantees

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has dismissed U.S. demands for $500 billion in mineral wealth as repayment for wartime aid. He emphasized that the total assistance received from the U.S. so far amounts to $67 billion in weapons and $31.5 billion in direct budget support—far less than the requested sum.

U.S. Request for 50% Ownership of Critical Minerals

The proposed agreement from the Trump administration included a provision for the U.S. to take ownership of 50% of Ukraine’s critical minerals. Zelenskiy firmly rejected this, stating, “I can’t sell our country.” While open to negotiations, he insisted that security guarantees be included to protect Ukraine from further Russian aggression.

Concerns Over Aid Transparency

Amid diplomatic tensions, Ukraine is striving to maintain the backing of its key allies. President Trump has questioned how previous aid funds have been used, while Zelenskiy clarified that combined assistance from the U.S. and the European Union totals $200 billion out of the $320 billion spent on the war effort. Ukraine has covered the remaining $120 billion.

Trump’s Controversial Remarks on Ukraine

Trump has also suggested that Ukraine bears responsibility for the Russian invasion, a claim that has drawn criticism from Zelenskiy. The Ukrainian president responded by accusing Trump of living in a “disinformation bubble,” a statement that has resonated with European leaders concerned about U.S. foreign policy direction.

“Zelenskiy Rejects US Demand for $500 Billion in Mineral Wealth”