Daijiworld Media Network - Washington

Washington, Feb 23: US President Donald Trump has said he is working to recover the billions of dollars sent as wartime aid to Ukraine, pushing for mineral resources deal as compensation.
Speaking at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) near Washington, Trump said, "I'm trying to get the money back, or secured.

I want them to give us something for all of the money we put up. We're asking for rare earth and oil—anything we can get."

The comments come amid tense negotiations between Washington and Kyiv over a potential minerals deal, which Trump sees as repayment for the support provided under his predecessor Joe Biden. However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has reportedly resisted signing such an agreement, demanding security guarantees in return.

According to sources, the US is pressuring Ukraine to agree to a $500 billion deal, a figure much higher than the official $60 billion in military aid provided by Washington since Russia's invasion. The Kiel Institute estimates total US assistance, including financial and humanitarian aid, at approximately $120 billion.

Tensions between Trump and Zelensky have escalated, with Trump recently branding the Ukrainian leader a "dictator" and urging him to "move fast" to end the war. His administration also proposed a UN resolution on the conflict that omitted any reference to Ukrainian territories occupied by Russia.

As the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion approaches, Ukraine continues to struggle on the battlefield, with Russian forces claiming new territorial gains in the eastern Lugansk region. Meanwhile, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer reaffirmed the UK’s "ironclad support" for Ukraine in a call with Zelensky, as thousands marched in London in solidarity with Kyiv.

Negotiations between the US and Ukraine remain ongoing, with Zelensky’s administration pushing for amendments to Trump’s proposed deal before considering an agreement.