Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky rejected US $ 500 billion in Ukraine’s US $ 500 billion on Wednesday to pay Washington for aid in war time. He said the US has not provided even close to this amount so far and has not offered specific security guarantees in the agreement.
The Ukrainian leader, who is under great pressure from the White House, said Washington has provided $ 67 billion in weapons and $ 31.5 billion in direct budget support during the nearly three -year war with Russia.
“You can’t call it 500 billion and ask us to return 500 billion in minerals or something else. This is not a serious conversation, ”said Zelensky.
Donald Trump said he wants $ 500 billion in Kiev rare land minerals to ensure Washington assistance. His team proposed last week a deal that Kiev refused to sign in the current form.
The Ukrainian President said that the proposed agreement did not contain the security provisions that Ukraine desperately needs to protect her from Russian aggression.
He said the draft of the agreement proposed that the US would take over the property of 50% of Ukraine’s essential minerals.
“I defend Ukraine, I can’t sell our country. I said ok, give us something positive. You write some kind of warranty, and we will write a memo… some kind of percentage, ”he said.
“They said to me: only 50 [por cento]. I said: Okay, no. Let the lawyers work a little more, they didn’t do all the necessary work. I am just the decision maker, I do not work in the details of this document. Let them work on it. ”
The issue of how much helps the United States has provided Ukraine is taking on an important diplomatic meaning, as Kiev tries to maintain the support of what his most important ally has been.
In comments on Tuesday (18), Trump wondered where was the money that was given to Ukraine.
Zelensky, addressing these comments, said the combined help from the US and the European Union has reached $ 200 billion out of a total of $ 320 billion on weapons for war effort.
The Ukrainians arched with the rest of the costs of about $ 120 billion, he said.
This content was originally published in “I can’t sell Ukraine,” says Zelensky about Trump mineral agreement on CNN Brazil.
Source: CNN Brasil
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