Former U.S. President Donald Trump has sparked controversy by appearing to side with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Trump has initiated discussions for a settlement without involving Ukraine or European powers, raising eyebrows among international observers. This move comes ahead of his scheduled meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Thursday, where Trump's proposal includes the United Kingdom's contribution of peacekeeping troops.
Trump's intentions are further complicated by his demand for Ukraine to grant American firms access to 50% of its rare-earth reserves as a condition for U.S. assistance in ending the war. He insists that Ukraine cannot expect to regain all the territory seized by Russia and has dismissed Kyiv's aspirations to join NATO.
Jeanne Shaheen, a leading Senate Democrat, recently visited Ukraine, meeting with local figures such as the mayor of Bucha and the town's priest. Bucha was the site of a brutal massacre in 2022, where over 500 people were killed during a 33-day siege.
"We met with the mayor of Bucha, we met with the priest. There had been a mass grave of a couple of hundred of the civilians who were killed. There were over 500 killed in Bucha in that 33-day siege [the final toll is unclear]. It was horrific. It was absolutely brutal. Finding the graves, taking the corpses out of the graves." – Jeanne Shaheen
Shaheen emphasized the resilience demonstrated by the Ukrainian people in Bucha and criticized Trump for his stance on the conflict.
"It's very distressing. And the president's wrong. He's just wrong … Vladimir Putin is the dictator. President Zelenskiy was duly elected by the people of Ukraine, and he has a higher favorability rating than Donald Trump." – Jeanne Shaheen
The potential mineral deal with Russia adds another layer of complexity to Trump's proposal. Shaheen highlighted that a significant portion of Ukraine's mineral deposits lies within territories currently under Russian control.
"Now, what we heard when we were in Ukraine is that 40-50% of those mineral deposits are actually in territory controlled by the Russians. Maybe part of the deal is President Trump is going to get a deal with Vladimir Putin on the mineral rights too. So … that could be a little tricky." – Jeanne Shaheen
Shaheen has been vocal about her support for efforts to achieve peace in Ukraine and stressed the importance of positioning Ukrainians favorably in any negotiations.
"I do think there is support to do everything we can to help get a peace in Ukraine. And from my perspective, one of the most important aspects of that is ensuring that the Ukrainians are positioned in the most positive, favorable way for them. If this deal helps with that, and President Zelenskyy is comfortable signing it, then I support that." – Jeanne Shaheen
Trump, however, has not provided detailed information about his proposed deal, only stating he would not make extensive security guarantees.
"I am not going to make security guarantees beyond very much," he stated.
Shaheen's visit to Bucha underscored the grim reality faced by many Ukrainians and highlighted the stark contrast between Russian and Ukrainian actions during the conflict.
"We met with the investigators who were investigating each murder individually, and they showed us the picture of the Russian commander who had given the order. And it was very clear that the order was to frighten the civilians, to do everything you can to try and reduce any resistance from the civilians." – Jeanne Shaheen