"Deal or no deal"

Trump: Ukraine “could be Russian one day”

Shortly after US President Donald Trump's statement that the Gaza Strip could become the "Riviera of the East", he is making people sit up and take notice with a new phrase with regard to Ukraine.(Bild: Aris Messinis / AFP, Krone KREATIV)

Shortly before a meeting between US Vice President JD Vance and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Selenskyj, US President Donald Trump expressed the idea that the country attacked by Russia could "one day be Russian".

Ukraine could "make a deal, they can't make a deal. Maybe one day they'll be Russian, maybe they won't", Trump said in an interview with Fox News.

In the interview, the US president also reiterated his stance on providing US aid in exchange for natural resources from Ukraine, such as rare earths. Ukrainian head of state Selenskyj had already shown himself to be open to US investment in the deal.

Trump pushes for end to war
The war in Ukraine began on February 24, 2022. Trump, who has repeatedly expressed his disapproval of US military aid for Kiev, is pushing for a quick end to the war.

War to end in six months?
During the election campaign, the Republican had promised to end the war within "24 hours" - he now mentions "six months" as the time horizon.

Donald Trump with Ukraine President Volodymyr Selensky in New York in September 2024. Last week, Trump announced that he would "probably" meet Zelensky in person soon.(Bild: AP)

Shortly after US President Donald Trump's statement that the Gaza Strip could become the "Riviera of the East", he is making people sit up and take notice with a new verbal statement regarding Ukraine.(Bild: Aris Messinis / AFP, Krone KREATIV)

Security guarantees demanded
Kiev fears that it could be forced to make concessions to Moscow if the war ends and is demanding strict security guarantees from Washington for any agreement with Russia.

Next Friday, Trump's Vice President Vance wants to meet with Selensky on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference.