Former U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a strong warning to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy after Kyiv rejected a U.S.-backed rare earth minerals agreement. Speaking aboard Air Force One, Trump said, “If Zelenskyy walks away from the deal, he’s going to have problems—big, big problems.”
Last week, Zelenskyy rejected the proposed deal, pointing to major discrepancies in the draft. “It was not the same document,” he told reporters. “It included provisions never discussed and some we had already rejected.”
According to Financial Times, the U.S. deal sought broad access to Ukraine’s natural resources, including oil and gas. In return, it offered no clear security guarantees. Ukrainian media called the proposal “unacceptable.” Ukrainska Pravda said it undermined sovereignty and demanded repayment of all U.S. aid.
In February, both sides appeared close to an agreement on resource cooperation. Zelenskyy even traveled to Washington for final talks. However, the meeting was abruptly canceled after Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance criticized the Ukrainian leader during the visit.
While Ukraine defends itself from Russian attacks and insists on its independence, reports suggest the U.S. is also in talks with Russia on rare earth supplies. Russian official Kirill Dmitriev confirmed ongoing discussions. He said American companies had shown interest and noted his participation in Saudi-led peace negotiations.
Trump has met with Russian President Vladimir Putin several times in recent months. Despite their friendly image, no progress has been made. Trump recently criticized Putin’s proposal to place Ukraine under UN control and install new leadership. “I was furious when Putin disrespected Zelenskyy like that,” he said in an NBC interview.
Still, Trump insisted his relationship with Putin remains solid. “He knows I was angry,” he stated. “But if he does the right thing, it goes away.”
Trump also threatened to impose secondary tariffs on Russian oil exports if a ceasefire isn’t reached within a month. The move could impact economies like China and India—major buyers of Russian oil—and hurt Moscow’s income.
Zelenskyy remains doubtful of Russia’s intentions. In a recent address, he condemned daily drone and missile strikes. “These attacks are constant—day and night,” he said, dismissing any talk of peace from Putin.
Commenting on the U.S.-proposed 30-day ceasefire, Zelenskyy added, “Russia offers peace but wages war. Only relentless global pressure can stop this aggression.”
