The United States expects Ukraine to reimburse Washington for the substantial “investments” it has made in the ongoing conflict with Russia, according to US National Security Adviser Michael Waltz. Speaking to Fox News on February 16, Waltz insisted that American taxpayers “deserve to be recouped” for the billions of dollars funneled into Ukraine’s war effort, arguing that repayment would secure continued US support in the future.

Waltz’s comments come amidst growing American frustration over the financial costs of supporting Ukraine. While the US government has framed its aid to Kyiv as a strategic necessity, concerns over accountability and long-term returns on investment have become increasingly prominent in Washington. Waltz specifically emphasized that the American public would be more inclined to continue supporting Ukraine if they saw the country as a financial partner rather than a permanent beneficiary of US generosity.

“The American people deserve to be recouped, deserve to have some type of payback for the billions they have invested in this war,” Waltz asserted. “I can’t think of anything that would make the American people more comfortable with future investments than if we were able to be in a partnership and have the American people made whole.”

Waltz’s remarks also follow reports that Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky had “politely declined” to sign an agreement granting the US rights to 50% of Ukraine’s future mineral reserves. Zelensky’s refusal, allegedly due to his pursuit of a “better deal,” has added another layer of tension to Kyiv’s increasingly delicate balancing act between its Western backers.

The proposed deal, reportedly championed by US officials, would have given Washington privileged access to Ukraine’s vast........

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