KYIV/BRUSSELS: US President Donald Trump floated the idea that Ukraine “may be Russian someday”, as his Vice President JD Vance gears up to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky later this week.

Pushing for an end to the nearly three-year war with Russia, Trump discussed the conflict in an interview with broadcaster Fox News that aired on Monday.

“They may make a deal, they may not make a deal. They may be Russian someday, or they may not be Russian someday,” he said. Trump also emphasised reaping a return on investment with US aid to Ukraine, suggesting a trade for Kyiv’s natural resources, such as rare 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 $500 billion worth of rare earth,” Trump said. “And they have essentially agreed to do that, so at least we don’t feel stupid.”

Brussels steps up efforts to peel Central Asia away from Moscow

Trump also confirmed that he will soon dispatch to Ukraine his special envoy Keith Kellogg, who is tasked with drawing up a proposal to halt the fighting. Trump is pressing for a swift end to the conflict, while Zelensky is calling for tough security guarantees from Washington as part of any deal with Russia.

EU announces first Central Asia summit

EU chief Antonio Costa said on Tuesday the bloc will hold its first ever summit with Central Asian leaders in April, as Brussels steps up efforts to peel the region away from Russia.

Moscow’s war on Ukraine has pushed the European Union and ex-Soviet states of Central Asia closer together as the Kremlin’s long-time allies have hedged their relations with Russia. The EU is keen to bolster relations with mineral-rich countries like Kazakhstan as Europe seeks to diversify supplies of crucial materials. Brussels is also on a push to broaden trading relations around the globe in the face of US President Donald Trump’s protectionist policies.

Costa confirmed the meeting in Samarkand in April after a phone call with Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. Costa will be accompanied by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

Published in Dawn, February 12th, 2025