Ukraine ‘may be Russian someday’: Trump

US president and Kyiv suggest a deal on rare earths could compensate Washington for aid.

United States President Donald Trump has suggested Ukraine “may be Russian someday” as he seeks to fulfil a boast that he will bring the war to a swift end.

Trump made the comment in an interview on Monday, as he discussed the three-year old conflict that has followed Russia’s full-scale invasion. Kyiv, meanwhile, has suggested it is open to an agreement that would see Washington compensated for continued military and financial aid.

“They may make a deal, they may not make a deal. They may be Russian someday, or they may not be Russian someday,” Trump said in an interview with US broadcaster Fox News.

The US leader also reiterated that he wants compensation for the aid the US has provided to Ukraine in the form of access to rare earth minerals.

“We are going to have all this money in there, and I say I want it back. And I told them that I want the equivalent, like $500bn worth of rare earth,” Trump said. “And they have essentially agreed to do that, so at least we don’t feel stupid.”