Macron Interrupts, Contradicts Trump On 'Getting Our Money Back’ From Ukraine: „No!”

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Macron Interrupts, Contradicts Trump On 'Getting Our Money Back’ From Ukraine: „No!”

Update(1415ET): President Trump said Monday while hosting French President Emmanuel Macron at the The White house Ukrainian President Zelensky could be coming to the Oval Office as soon as „this week” to sign a „final deal” on rare earth minerals access.

„It looks like we’re getting very close. The deal’s being worked on,” Trump told the press pool, with a nervous and anxious-looking Macron sitting next to him. „We’re I think getting very close to getting an agreement where we get our money back over a period of time,” Trump added, referencing prior demands to be paid back some $500 billion after years of heavy weapons and funds sent to Kiev.

I will be meeting with President Zelenskyy. In fact, he may come in this week or next week to sign the agreement… The agreement is being worked on now. They are very close to a final deal,” Trump stressed. Watch:

BREAKING: President Trump says Ukrainian President Zelensky could be coming to the Oval Office as soon as *this week* to sign a „final deal.”

„It looks like we’re getting very close. The deal’s being worked on.”

„We’re I think getting very close to getting an agreement where… pic.twitter.com/xn23Bjmvw4

— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) February 24, 2025

Axios has obtained a draft agreement being currently worked on, and provides the following…

„The Government of the United States of America intends to provide a long-term financial commitment to the development of a stable and economically prosperous Ukraine,” the draft says. It says the fund will be designed „so as to invest in projects in Ukraine and attract investments to increase development,” including in areas like mining and ports.

It suggests the US will recoup some its losses „defending, reconstructing, and returning Ukraine” to its pre-war GDP. Zelensky has meanwhile rejected the concept of 'repaying’ Washington for what’s been given through the course of the war.

An awkward public disagreement happened just as Trump was talking… „No!” Macron openly interjected

Trump: So you understand, Europe is loaning the money to Ukraine. They get their money back.

Macron: No…pic.twitter.com/0TOyaX3iYu

— Clash Report (@clashreport) February 24, 2025

By the end of the tense, unexpected exchange between the two leaders, a visibly annoyed Trump quipped, „If you believe that, it’s OK with me…”.

* * *

By all accounts the hold-up in the US and Ukraine potentially agreeing to a final mineral deal has been President Zelensky’s refusal to sign – seeing in it selling off Ukraine’s economic sovereignty; however, sources on both sides strongly suggest a deal is very close.

„I will not sign what ten generations of Ukrainians will have to pay back,” said President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at a press conference Sunday. President Trump is seeking access to some $500 billion in the country’s minerals, including rare earths, to repay Washington for its wartime aid.

Getty Images

Kiev as well as many of its European partners have complained that the deal offers no clear security guarantees or even the promise of future aid in return. Instead it appears set up to repay the US billions in past aid, and Ukrainian officials and the media have described it as punitive.

The Ukrainian leader described this weekend:

“Let’s first clarify the $500 billion figure. I know that we had $100 billion [in US aid provided to Ukraine], and that’s a fact. But I’m not going to acknowledge $500 billion, regardless of what anyone says, with all due respect to our partners,” Zelensky told reporters at the “Ukraine Year 2025” forum.

Still, there appears have been some weekend progress, and the Zelensky government knows it’s in no position to fiercely push back, also given that the Trump administration is essentially calling for a near-future change in leadership at this point, having blasted Zelensky as a 'dictator’.

„Ukrainian and U.S. teams are in the final stages of negotiations regarding the minerals agreement. The negotiations have been very constructive, with nearly all key details finalized. We are committed to completing this swiftly to proceed with its signature,” Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Justice Olga Stefanishyna stated on X Monday.

„We hope both US and UA leaders might sign and endorse it in Washington the soonest to showcase our commitment for decades to come,” Stefanishyna added.

A fresh description from US officials involved say the deal will commit to a „free, sovereign and secure” Ukraine and achieving a „lasting peace” as part of it. This will include the US agreeing to „durable partnership” between Washington and Kiev, the texts shows as reported by Bloomberg.

The latest draft also stipulates that those who „acted adversely” to Ukraine in the war should not „benefit from its reconstruction” – Bloomberg has also noted.

Earlier this month, when talk of a mineral deal plan was first being floated by the White House, Zelensky expressed openness, though he was also likely attempting to be diplomatic and conciliatory, not thinking such an agreement would be pushed this hard by Trump, or realistically get off the ground.

Special Envoy Steve Witkoff on a rare earth minerals agreement with Ukraine: „I expect to see a deal signed this week.” pic.twitter.com/61e1Q8qfvT

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) February 23, 2025

„If we are talking about a deal, then let’s do a deal, we are only for it,” Zelensky had told Reuters at the time. The Ukrainian leader insisted the deal wouldn’t involve „giving away” Ukraine’s resources but framed it as a partnership.

But now with the details being hammered out and put into place, he clearly understands it to be very heavily skewed in Washington’s favor, and not benefiting future generations of Ukrainians.

Tyler Durden
Mon, 02/24/2025 – 14:15

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