Trump demands Ukraine recognize US aid as debt

Former President Donald Trump is positioning himself to demand significant concessions from Ukraine in exchange for continued U.S. military support, likening his proposals to those imposed on defeated nations. He has claimed that Ukraine owes the U.S. a substantial debt, reportedly exaggerated, for past military aid, which he now wants recognized formally. Trump's strategy appears to include demands for a share of Ukraine's critical mineral resources and infrastructure revenues, effectively seeking to establish Ukraine as a vassal state. Furthermore, there are concerns that his approach mirrors his past dealings with the Taliban, threatening to sideline Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and undermine U.S. support for Ukraine against Russia. This has raised alarms among Ukrainian officials, particularly after Trump expressed a willingness to divert U.S. military aid to Russia instead. Critics argue that Trump's methods risk emboldening Russian aggression while jeopardizing the sovereignty and stability of Ukraine.