JD Vance says giving US economic interest in Ukraine is a security guarantee
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s talks with US President Donald Trump in the White House on Feb 28 ended without a formal agreement on a minerals deal.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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WASHINGTON – US Vice-President JD Vance told Fox News on March 3 that giving Washington an economic interest in the future of Ukraine will serve as a security guarantee for the country that Russia invaded in February 2022.
Why it’s important
US President Donald Trump has been seeking a minerals deal with Ukraine – home to a trove of lithium deposits and rare earth minerals – as payback for billions of dollars in US aid to Ukraine during Russia’s invasion. He said he will give more details on the future of that potential deal on March 4.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s talks with Mr Trump in the White House on Feb 28 broke down in acrimonious exchanges
Key quotes
“If you want real security guarantees, if you want to actually ensure that (Russian President) Vladimir Putin does not invade Ukraine again, the very best security guarantee is to give Americans economic upside in the future of Ukraine,” Mr Vance said in the interview.
“That is a way better security guarantee than 20,000 troops from some random country that hasn’t fought a war in 30 or 40 years.”
Mr Vance also said: “What President Trump has said clearly and consistently is, of course, the door is open, so long as Zelensky is willing to seriously talk peace. You can’t come into the Oval Office or anywhere else and refuse to even discuss the details of a peace deal.”
Context
Mr Trump has been pushing for a deal to end the war.
France, Britain and potentially other European countries have offered to send troops to Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire – something Moscow has already rejected. Mr Zelensky has said a ceasefire must carry explicit security guarantees from the West. REUTERS
