In a recent interview with Fox News, former US President Donald Trump suggested that Ukraine “may be Russian someday” as he called for an end to the ongoing war with Russia. Trump emphasized the possibility of a deal, noting that Ukraine could potentially become part of Russia, though he did not elaborate on the specifics of such an agreement. He also expressed his desire to secure a return on the significant US aid to Ukraine, proposing a trade for Ukraine’s rare earth minerals, which he claimed had already been tentatively agreed upon.
Trump’s comments come ahead of a planned meeting between his Vice President, JD Vance, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the Munich Security Conference later this week. Zelensky has been vocal about seeking strong security guarantees from the West, particularly from NATO, to prevent Russia from regrouping and potentially launching another attack.
Meanwhile, Trump’s envoy, Keith Kellogg, is set to visit Ukraine on February 20 to explore proposals to end the conflict. However, there is no detailed plan yet from Trump on how to bring both sides to the negotiating table. Both Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin have ruled out direct talks, and significant differences remain, especially regarding territorial concessions.
Zelensky, in a recent address, reiterated the need for “real peace” and “effective security guarantees” for Ukraine, emphasizing the importance of security for the nation and its economic future. At the same time, Zelensky’s team continues to resist territorial concessions, despite Russia’s claims of annexation over several Ukrainian regions.
As the war progresses, Russia’s military advances continue, particularly in the eastern Donetsk region, while Moscow’s airstrikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure have prompted Kyiv to impose emergency power supply restrictions to mitigate the damage.
