U.S. President Donald Trump stirred controversy by suggesting that Ukraine “may be Russian someday,” a remark that comes as Vice President JD Vance prepares for a high-stakes meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky later this week. The statement has sparked fresh concerns over Washington’s stance on the ongoing conflict.

Addressing the ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia, now approaching its third year, U.S. President Donald Trump emphasized his desire for a resolution in an interview with Fox News that aired Monday. His remarks have added a new dimension to discussions on the conflict’s future.

“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.

“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.”

Keith Kellogg, Trump’s special envoy, will soon be heading to Ukraine to formulate a strategy to end the ongoing war, the U.S. president confirmed Monday. While Trump remains focused on securing a swift resolution, Zelensky has made it clear that any peace agreement must come with firm security guarantees from the United States.

Ukraine is adamant that any peace deal must come with binding military protections, such as NATO accession or the deployment of peacekeeping forces, warning that anything less would grant Russia an opportunity to rebuild and launch another attack. Zelensky’s spokesperson, Sergiy Nikiforov, confirmed that the Ukrainian president will hold talks with U.S. Vice President JD Vance this Friday on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference.

A source in Zelensky’s office said Kellogg would arrive in Ukraine on February 20, without detailing where in the country he would visit. His trip would come just days before the three-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion on February 24.

The Eastern Updates