Trump Faces Extortion Accusations Over Starlink-Ukraine Deal for Rare Earth Minerals
February 22, 2025
This controversy follows Trump's previous derogatory remarks about Zelensky, whom he labeled a 'dictator,' and his claims that Ukraine was responsible for the onset of the war in February 2022.
In a controversial move, Trump is reportedly demanding what he describes as 'the equivalent of like $500 billion worth' of rare earth minerals in exchange for facilitating a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia.
Trump's national security adviser, Mike Waltz, has claimed that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky would agree to a deal regarding these rare minerals, although Ukrainian sources have indicated that such an agreement is not yet finalized.
Concerns have been raised about the current draft of the proposed agreement, which many view as lacking genuine partnership and instead reflecting unilateral commitments from Ukraine.
Donald Trump is facing serious accusations of 'extortion' as reports emerge suggesting that U.S. negotiators might restrict Ukraine's access to Starlink if the country does not provide critical minerals.
Starlink, owned by Elon Musk, is crucial for internet connectivity in Ukraine, and losing access to it would be considered a 'massive blow' to the nation.
Critics, including the news outlet MeidasTouch, have denounced the threat to Starlink as a sign of 'staggering levels of corruption' in the negotiations.
In response to Trump's tactics, there have been calls within the European Union to consider banning Tesla sales, reflecting widespread disapproval of his approach.
Despite the potential backlash, Elon Musk appears unfazed by the possibility of boycotts against Tesla, even sharing a TikTok video that mocks the notion of suffering financial losses.
Summary based on 1 source