Trump Claims Zelenskyy Wants to Back Out of Rare Earth Deal, Hints at 'Big Problems'

Donald Trump has once again stirred the pot on international relations, claiming that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is trying to back out of a rare earth deal with the United States. The former president warned that if Zelenskyy follows through with renegotiation, he’s in for "big, big problems."

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump revealed the details of the deal, which he said represented a significant step for Ukraine. "We made a deal on rare earths, and now he’s saying, ‘well, you know, I want to renegotiate the deal,’" Trump explained. "He wants to be a member of NATO. Well, he was never going to be a member of NATO. He understands that."

It’s a bold statement, especially given Zelenskyy’s recent comments expressing a willingness to sign an agreement on minerals and security with the U.S. as soon as possible. The Ukrainian leader had positioned the deal as a pivotal move toward greater security guarantees. Yet, according to Trump, the supposed harmony unraveled during Zelenskyy’s White House visit, which ended abruptly without any agreement. Zelenskyy was reportedly shown the door—a diplomatic snub if there ever was one.

Trump didn’t stop there. He touched on progress in a ceasefire negotiation between Ukraine and Russia, asserting that his relationship with Vladimir Putin wasn’t at its lowest point despite the Russian leader’s recent remarks questioning Zelenskyy’s credibility. Trump expressed confidence in Putin’s commitment to a partial ceasefire, saying, "Deals are made with people whether you like them or not." Somehow, that sounds less like diplomacy and more like a tough-love mantra.

The conversation wasn’t limited to Ukraine. Trump discussed secondary tariffs on Venezuela, praising their effectiveness in disrupting trade and enforcing U.S. policies. "Every ship just got out and left," Trump boasted, claiming the threat of tariffs caused a mass exodus of vessels from Venezuelan waters. He also hinted at broader tariff plans targeting other nations, warning, "If you look at the history, and you look at what’s happened to us… we’re going to be much more generous than they were to us." Generous? That’s certainly one way to describe a trade war.

Then came the kicker: Trump addressed the possibility of running for a third term. Initially, he dismissed the idea but couldn’t resist revisiting the topic, calling the 2020 election "totally rigged." While he refused to take credit for considering another run, he didn’t entirely rule it out either. When pressed by reporters, he coyly replied, "I don’t want to talk about a third term now. We have a long time. We have almost four years to go." For someone "not joking," he sure knows how to keep the rumor mill churning.

In a final flourish, Trump touted his administration’s unparalleled success during its first 100 days, claiming, "Some very important people today said they’ve never seen turnaround as fast as this." Whether that’s fact or fluff, one thing’s certain: Trump’s knack for making headlines remains unmatched.