Ukraine-Russia war latest: Trump says Ukraine may be Russian someday while demanding $500bn rare earth deal
Donald Trump said Ukraine may or may not lose its sovereignty to Russia while claiming that the war-hit nation had 'essentially agreed' to a rare earth minerals deal with the US.
"They may make a deal. They may not make a deal. They may be Russian someday, or they may not be Russian someday.
'But we're going to have all this money in [ Ukraine ] and I say, I want it back," the president said in an interview with Fox News.
"I told them that I want the equivalent of like $500 billion worth of rare earths, and they've essentially agreed to do that.'
His remarks came as Russian deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov said it would not be possible to reach a peace deal if Mr Trump undermined Mr Putin's fundamental aims.
'Without solving the problems which were the root causes of what is happening, it will not be possible to reach an agreement,' he said.
'So variations and half-measures are not the path we are prepared to go along.'
What happened to the North Korean troops fighting Ukraine on the frontline?
North Korean troops pulled from Ukraine war front line – what happened?
Kim Jong Un sent roughly 11,000 soldiers to join Vladimir Putin's troops in November last year
Alexander Butler11 February 2025 11:30
Mapped: Where are Ukraine's rare earth mineral resources and why does Trump want them?
Mapped: Where are Ukraine's mineral resources and why does Trump want them?
More than 50 per cent of Ukraine's critical rare earth mineral resources are in regions illegally annexed by Vladimir Putin and partially occupied by his forces
Alexander Butler11 February 2025 11:00
The defenders of Kyiv using World War Two-style machine guns on farm trailers
The defenders of Kyiv using World War Two-style machine guns on farm trailers
Swarms of Iranian-made Russian Shahed unmanned drones target Ukraine almost every night – it is up to these men and their World War Two-style machine guns to shoot the UAVs out of the sky. World Affairs Editor Sam Kiley reports from the Kyiv region
Alexander Butler11 February 2025 10:30
The fatal lengths North Korean soldiers will go to to avoid capture by Ukraine
The extraordinary lengths North Korean soldiers will go to avoid capture in Ukraine
The North Korean troops fighting for Russia are highly trained and will stop at nothing to avoid surrender, Ukrainian sources tell Sam Kiley, The Independent's World Affairs Editor, in Sumy
Alexander Butler11 February 2025 10:00
Emergency restrictions in Ukraine after Russia pounds gas infrastructure
Ukraine's energy minister has introduced emergency restrictions after Russia hit gas infrastructure overnight.
"Another attack on Ukraine's energy system is under way," German Galushchenko said in the early hours of the morning.
"At night, the enemy attacked the gas infrastructure. As of this morning, the energy sector is still under attack."
Russia has consistently targeted Ukrainian energy infrastructure in a bid to economically cripple Kyiv and bring down morale.
Alexander Butler11 February 2025 09:00
Ukraine's leading rapper is now leading drone warfare against Russia
Ukraine's leading rapper is now leading drone warfare against Russia
Ukraine's $1.3bn drone war is now being led by a rap artist who has been fighting on the frontline – and in his music - since the start of the war, Sam Kiley reports
Alexander Butler11 February 2025 08:37
Trump aides to visit Ukraine for first time, Zelensky says
"Serious" members of Trump's team will travel to Ukraine for the first time this week, Volodymyr Zelenskyy said late last night.
He also confirmed plans to meet Vice President JD Vance at the Munich conference, which begins on Friday.
Zelenskyy said his team were attempting to organise a meeting with Trump.
"This week, some people from the Trump team, serious ones, will be in Ukraine - even before the Munich conference," he said.
Alexander Butler11 February 2025 08:35
Poland activates aircraft after Russian strikes on Ukraine
Polish and allied aircraft were activated early on Tuesday to ensure safety in areas bordering the threatened zones after Russia launched air strikes on Ukraine, the Operational Command of the Polish armed forces said.
"The Operational Command of the Armed Forces is monitoring the current situation, and its forces and resources remain in full readiness for immediate response," the Command said on X.
Alexander Butler11 February 2025 08:07
Trump says 'Ukraine may be Russian someday'
Donald Trump has said Ukraine may or may not lose its sovereignty to Russia.
The US president has also repeated his pitch for compensation from the war-hit country in return for the aid provided by the US, irrespective of how the war ends.
"They may make a deal. They may not make a deal. They may be Russian someday, or they may not be Russian someday. But we're going to have all this money in (Ukraine) and I say, I want it back," Mr Trump said in an interview with Fox News's Bret Baier.
Arpan Rai11 February 2025 07:40
Trump says Ukraine 'essentially agrees' to rare earth deal worth billions
Donald Trump has claimed that Ukraine has "essentially agreed" to a $500b resource deal.
"I told them that I want the equivalent of like $500 billion worth of rare earth (minerals), and they've essentially agreed to do that," the US president said.
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