As reported by ASPI, the current White House has changed its policy regarding support for Ukraine and officially states that it will not provide aid for free. However, Kyiv, within the framework of the mineral resources agreement, does not recognize the previous U.S. military aid as debt.
President Zelensky made this statement during a briefing with journalists. He emphasized that Ukraine will not recognize the aid packages provided by the Biden administration as loans. The President noted that the key compromises were outlined in the framework agreement on rare-earth metals, which, as is known, was disrupted at the end of February. At that time, it was made clear that Ukraine would not repay the U.S. for the aid provided since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion. “We will not consider it as debt, as I have said. These are absolutely clear matters for me. At least we are talking about the past,” said Zelensky.
At the same time, the President made it clear that Ukraine is ready to reimburse the U.S. for future aid, if the Trump administration provides it. He also noted that he is currently unaware of how the “debt issue” is mentioned in the new agreement on mineral resources that was handed over by the U.S. “If there are any prospects, new support, then the United States can probably set certain conditions, understanding that this team will not do anything for us for free. They officially say this,” the President said.
Tags: Politics Ukraine US US aid
