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The President of Ukraine, Volodímir Zelenski, denounced on Wednesday that the United States has asked to keep half of Ukraine's natural resources without offering any security guarantees or ensuring the continuity of its support.
"The document was not clear, it was only clear in one thing, that we had to give 50% of everything specified in the document," Zelenski said to the press in Kyiv, referring to a draft prepared by the White House.
The president added that he is willing to publish Washington's proposal.
"I don't think that will help our relations," he said, as quoted by the Ukrainian public agency Ukrinform.
According to the agency EFE, the aforementioned document was presented to Zelensky a week ago by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent during his visit to Kiev. The Ukrainian leader asked for a few days to respond.
According to sources with access to the document, the United States asked Ukraine to share half of its rare earth elements and other natural resources.
The idea was made public by President Donald Trump shortly after taking office.
It would be Ukraine's payment for the aid that the United States offered to Kiev, which Trump stated would bring Washington a benefit of 500 billion dollars.
But Zelensky refuted those figures at the press conference this Wednesday.
"We need to clarify those numbers. Unfortunately, they do not match reality. The war has cost us 320 billion dollars; 120 billion covered by Ukrainian taxpayers and 200 billion supplied by the United States and the European Union, mainly in military aid," he stated.
According to the Ukrainian president, the contribution from the United States has amounted to $67 billion in military assistance and $31.5 billion in direct budget support for Ukraine.
Tensions between Washington and Kiev have escalated due to Ukraine's exclusion from the talks held by U.S. and Russian officials in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, regarding the end of the war with Russia.
Zelensky stated that his country will not recognize the talks and expressed his rejection of any negotiation that does not directly include his country. "We cannot recognize any agreement about us without us," he emphasized.
On Tuesday, Trump stated that Ukraine could have avoided the conflict if an agreement had been reached, and that an inexperienced negotiator could have resolved it years ago, without the loss of lives or the destruction of cities.
"I've heard they are upset about not being invited. Well, you've been there for three years. You should have finished it three years ago. You never should have started it," he said from his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.
On his part, Zelenski claims that the U.S. president "lives in a bubble of misinformation" promoted by Moscow, which impacts his perception of the conflict between Ukraine and Russia.
Frequently asked questions about Zelenski's statement and Trump's proposal
What does Volodímir Zelenski say about Donald Trump's proposal?
Zelensky claims that the United States has asked to retain 50% of Ukraine's natural resources, without offering security guarantees or a commitment to ongoing support. This proposal was presented by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and is viewed as a payment for U.S. assistance to Ukraine.
What is Zelensky's position on the negotiations between the United States and Russia?
Zelensky has emphasized that he will not accept any agreement regarding Ukraine without its direct participation. He has expressed his rejection of talks between the U.S. and Russia that do not include Ukraine, stressing the importance of being present in any negotiation that determines the country's future.
What impact would a potential reduction of U.S. aid to Ukraine have?
The suspension of almost all foreign aid from the United States raises uncertainty about the future of assistance to Ukraine, particularly in terms of military support. While it is not specifically mentioned, it remains uncertain whether this aid will continue under Trump's new review policy.
How has Zelensky reacted to the possibility of a peace agreement with Russia?
Zelenski has shown a willingness to consider a territory exchange with Russia as part of serious negotiations to end the conflict. However, he insists that any agreement must include Ukraine and cannot be decided without its participation.
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