In a move that signals a stark shift in Washington’s approach to aid for Ukraine, US President Donald Trump has reportedly demanded that Kiev compensate the United States with rare-earth minerals in exchange for the billions of dollars in military and financial support provided since the onset of the conflict with Russia. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, making his first international visit to Ukraine, has been tasked with securing a deal to ensure that Washington sees a return on its substantial investment.

Speaking from the Oval Office on February 12, Trump underscored his administration’s commitment to ending what he has described as “reckless and unconditional aid” under his predecessor, Joe Biden. Trump criticized Biden’s approach of providing funds to Ukraine without any repayment plan, calling it a “foolish” decision that lacked strategic foresight.

“I have a Secretary of Treasury right now who’s actually quite brave – he’s over in Ukraine,” Trump told reporters. “He’s going there to get a document done where we’re going to be assured, in some form, [that we] get this money back.”

According to Trump, Ukraine has agreed in principle to the demand, which amounts to securing rare-earth minerals worth approximately $500 billion in exchange for what he claims to be “more than $300 billion” in US aid previously allocated to Ukraine.

Scott Bessent’s visit to Ukraine is a significant marker of the new economic approach Trump seeks to implement. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky took to X (formerly Twitter) to acknowledge the meeting,........

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