Ukrainian President Folodimir Zellinski said that the United States is calling Kiev to “abandon 50%” of rare minerals in the country without providing any security guarantees in return.
He pointed out that he immediately rejected the demand, saying: “I cannot, I cannot sell our country, that’s all the matter.”
US President Donald #Trump said earlier this month that he wanted to reach metal deposits in Ukraine for future aid.
Speaking to reporters in Kiev, Zelinski gave a summary of the conversation about minerals, saying that he specifically requested a memorandum of understanding that includes “some positive things.”
The Ukrainian president said that he suggested that Kiev presented a “percentage” of minerals if Washington pledged “some guarantees.”
And he added, “I was told: only 50%. I said: No. And the lawyers bid farewell to the matter.”
