The White House has told Volodymyr Zelensky to “tone down” his criticism of Donald Trump in the latest twist in a growing row between Ukraine and the US over a potential peace deal with Russia.
On Thursday, top US National Security Adviser Mike Waltz told Fox News the Ukrainian President must “tone it down and take a hard look and sign that deal” – a US demand for some $500billion (£395billion) in mineral wealth from Ukraine to repay Washington for its wartime aid.
Waltz said, in return, Ukraine would be handed an “incredible and historic opportunity” to gain US investment in its economy and natural resources.
He added that it would let the US “really become a partner in Ukraine’s future in a way that’s sustainable, but also would be the best security guarantee they could ever hope for… much more than another pallet of ammunition.”
Ukraine would be handed an ‘incredible and historic opportunity’ to gain US investment, Mike Waltz said
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That came just after Vice President JD Vance issued an explicit warning against Zelensky’s anti-Trump outbursts – the Ukrainian premier had said Trump was in a “disinformation space” after he called Zelensky a “dictator”.
“The idea that Zelensky is going to change the President’s mind by badmouthing him in public media… everyone who knows the president will tell you that is an atrocious way to deal with this administration,” Vance told the Mail.
Then, he told attendees at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) that peace is in everyone’s interests – and Trump is in the best position to achieve it.
“Peace is in the interest of Russia, in the interest of Ukraine, in the interest of Europe,” Vance said.
MORE ON THE ZELENSKY-TRUMP FEUD:
The Ukrainian premier had said Trump was in a ‘disinformation space’ after he called Zelensky a ‘dictator’
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He said Trump is a “very good negotiator, very good businessman” and a “smart statesman”, adding: “I really believe we’re on the cusp of peace in Europe for the first time in three years because we have leadership from the Oval Office – and we haven’t had it for four years in this country.”
Zelensky had lashed out at the $500billion figure – and said the US had supplied his country with $67billion in weapons and $31.5billion in direct budget support since the Russian invasion in 2022.
“You can’t call this 500 billion and ask us to return 500 billion in minerals or something else. This is not a serious conversation,” Zelensky said.
Another potential deal is set to be tabled in Washington next week by the UK.
Zelensky said the $500billion figure was ‘not a serious conversation’
REUTERS
Sir Keir Starmer’s first face-to-face meeting with Trump since the President returned to the Oval Office one month ago will see the Prime Minister argue for a European “peacekeeping force” on the ground in Ukraine after any potential deal is reached.
In his plan, Ukrainian personnel would patrol a “demilitarised zone” along the border, while British and French troops would be stationed at key infrastructure sites in a bid to deter future Russian attacks – with a “backstop” of American planes and missiles on standby.
The “backstop” would be put in place to ensure that “whatever forces are deployed will not be challenged by Russia,” one official with knowledge of the plan told the Telegraph.
But Russia has already slapped this idea down – Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov called it “unacceptable” on Thursday, while Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said the idea of Nato troops on the ground in Ukraine would present a “direct threat” to Russian security.