Ukraine Could Be Russian One Day- Trump
March 29 – U.S. President Donald Trump has suggested that Ukraine “could be Russian one day” as his Vice President JD Vance prepares to meet Ukrainian President Zelenskyy later this week.
Ukraine ‘Could Be Russian One Day’: Trump
Amid ongoing efforts to end the nearly three-year-long war with Russia, Trump discussed the conflict in an interview aired Monday with Fox News. He stated, “They can make a deal, or they may not make a deal. Ukraine could be Russian one day, or they may not be.”
Trump emphasized recouping U.S. investments in Ukraine’s aid, proposing trade deals for Ukraine’s rare minerals, akin to its natural resources. “We’ve spent all this money there, and I said I need it back. I told them I want $500 billion worth of rare minerals, and they’ve essentially agreed. At least we don’t look foolish,” Trump claimed.
He also confirmed plans to soon send his special envoy, Keith Kellogg, to Ukraine. Kellogg has been tasked with drafting proposals to halt the fighting. While Trump pushes for a swift end to the conflict, Zelenskyy continues demanding robust security guarantees from Washington as part of any deal with Moscow.
Kyiv fears that any agreement lacking NATO membership or peacekeeping troop deployments would allow the Kremlin to regroup and rearm for future aggression. Zelenskyy’s spokesperson, Serhiy Nykyforov, confirmed that the Ukrainian president will meet Vance on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference this Friday.
A source from Zelenskyy’s office noted that Kellogg will arrive in Ukraine on February 20, though his itinerary remains undisclosed. The visit precedes the three-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion on February 24.
Zelenskyy reiterated calls for “real peace and effective security guarantees” for Ukraine in a video address on social media, stressing the urgency of decisions impacting “people’s safety, our state’s security, economic relations, and the transparency of our resources—not just for Ukraine, but for the entire free world.”
**Trump’s Stance on Negotiations**
Though Trump claims to seek an end to the war, he has yet to present a detailed proposal to bring both sides to the table. Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin have both previously rejected direct talks, with no apparent basis for compromise.
Putin demands Ukraine relinquish claims to Russian-controlled territories in the south and east, while rejecting Kyiv’s alignment with NATO. Zelenskkyy refuses territorial concessions but acknowledges potential diplomatic avenues for reclaiming some regions.
Russia claims annexation of five Ukrainian territories—Crimea (2014) and Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk, and Zaporizhzhia (2022)—though it does not fully control them.
Zelenskky mentioned ongoing arrangements for a meeting with Trump, though no date is set. Trump recently told the *New York Post* he had discussed ending the war in a phone call with Putin, who reportedly expressed a desire to “stop people from dying.” The Kremlin declined to confirm or deny the call.
**Munich Security Conference and Escalating Tensions**
The Munich Security Conference (MSC) confirmed Zelenskyy’s participation from February 14–16. MSC Chair Christoph Heusgen stated the U.S. delegation will include Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Kellogg, and Vance, but no Russian officials will attend.
The meeting occurs as Russian forces advance in eastern Donetsk, seizing villages over the past year and intensifying bombardments that have devastated infrastructure. Moscow’s months-long strikes on Ukraine’s energy grid have also escalated, with Kyiv’s Energy Minister warning of ongoing attacks and emergency power restrictions to mitigate impacts.
