Trump's loophole in Ukraine deal: Despite agreement, Kiev should stick to EU on security issues

Frankfurter Rundschau Trump's loophole in Ukraine deal: Despite agreement, Kiev should stick to EU on security issues Article by Erkan Pehlivan • 10 hours • 3 minutes reading time Ukraine war On Friday, the Ukrainian president will visit Washington to sign a deal on raw materials. But there will be no security guarantees. Washington, D.C./Kiev - A deal on the use of Ukrainian raw materials is imminent between the USA and Ukraine. Kiev wants to continue to have the USA on its side against Russia and will have to reach an agreement with Donald Trump to do so. "We get along very well with Russia and Ukraine. President Zelensky will come on Friday, that has now been confirmed, and we will sign an agreement that will be a very big agreement," the Kyiv Post quoted the US president as saying. Trump said the agreement was "also a great deal for Ukraine" because it would allow US citizens to come to the country. This will create "automatic security" because "nobody will attack our people," said the US president. EU should take care of Ukraine's security Trump ruled out any further security guarantees from the USA. Trump did not want to give a guarantee to defend Ukraine against Russia. The Europeans should apparently take care of that themselves. "We will get Europe to do that," said Trump. As Ukraine's "direct neighbor," Europe has a responsibility. "But we will make sure that everything goes well," said the US president. Trump has also clearly rejected Ukraine's accession to NATO. "NATO - you can forget about that," Trump said on Wednesday in the White House when asked about possible conditions for ending the war in Ukraine. Zelensky insists on security guarantees from the USA Volodymyr Zelensky, however, renewed his demand for security guarantees before the meeting with Trump on Friday: "Guarantees for peace and security are crucial to prevent Russia from destroying the lives of other nations," Zelensky said in his daily video message. After his visit to Washington, Zelensky said he will travel to Great Britain at the weekend to consult with Prime Minister Keir Starmer and other European politicians. The Ukrainian president stressed that the "very big agreement" touted by Trump is only a framework agreement so far and that the financial details will only come in a contract that is still to be drawn up. A text leaked to the internet portal Ukrainska Pravda confirms this. Donald Trump: The EU is ripping off the USA Trump also reiterated his criticism of the financial burden on US taxpayers caused by the Ukraine war. The negotiations with Ukraine and the European partners are aimed at "getting this money back". Trump said of the European Union that it was founded "to rip off the USA". This is "the purpose" of the EU. One of the main reasons for the founding of the EU was to ensure peace in Europe after the Second World War. It was also intended to promote economic cooperation between European states. Although the US President accused the European partners of taking advantage, he also emphasized: "I guess my roots lie there - somehow, a long time ago, right? Indirectly, but somehow also quite directly, I think. But I love the countries of Europe. Frankly, I love all countries." Trump raw materials from Ukraine in return for aid paid Washington insists on access to Ukrainian raw material deposits in return for aid provided so far in repelling the Russian invasion that began in February 2022. In addition to metals from the rare earth group, oil and natural gas deposits are of particular interest to the USA. The US energy giant Chevron had already signed a contract to develop shale gas deposits in western Ukraine in 2013. However, the project was never realized. (erpe/dpa/AFP)