Putin Proposes Rare Earth Metals Development Cooperation to the U.S.
EU Announces Additional Economic Sanctions on Russia
U.S. and French Leaders Reach Consensus on Deploying European Peacekeepers to Ukraine
Donald Trump, the U.S. president who had clashed with Europe over a pro-Russian stance in the Ukraine war peace negotiations, has now announced plans to resume economic cooperation with Russia. This move contrasts with the European Union (EU) announcing additional sanctions against Russia on the third anniversary of the Ukraine war. In response to Trump’s 'Russia shielding,' Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed willingness to cooperate with the U.S. in the rare earth metals sector on the same day.
Trump: "Discussing Economic Development Deal with Putin"... Europe Announces Additional Sanctions on Russia
On the 24th (local time), President Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social, which he founded, "I am in serious discussions with President Putin about ending the (Ukraine) war and a major economic development deal between the U.S. and Russia." He added, "The talks are going well."
Earlier, on the 12th, Trump had shared on Truth Social that he spoke with President Putin, discussing not only Ukraine but also the Middle East, energy, artificial intelligence (AI), and the power of the dollar.
This stance contrasts with Europe, which has maintained a hardline approach toward Russia and introduced additional economic sanctions. On the same day, the European Union (EU) approved the '16th sanctions package against Russia' to mark the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The sanctions include limiting imports of Russian aluminum to 80% of the previous year’s volume over the next 12 months, with gradual reductions leading to a full ban starting at the end of 2026.
The U.S. has maintained a pro-Russian stance not only economically but also in foreign policy. Unlike Europe, which has framed Russia as the aggressor in Ukraine and structured its foreign policy accordingly, the U.S. under the Trump administration has shown increasing closeness to Russia. A notable example is Trump’s refusal to label Putin as a 'dictator,' saying, "I don’t use that word." Reflecting Trump’s policy stance on Russia and Ukraine, the resolution the U.S. submitted to the United Nations (UN) omitted any language regarding Russian aggression.
Putin Proposes "Rare Earth Metals Cooperation" to Trump... Also Suggests Defense Budget Cuts
In response to the U.S.’s pro-Russian moves, President Putin announced his readiness to propose cooperation with the U.S. in the rare earth metals sector. According to TASS and RIA Novosti, Putin said in an interview with Russian state media that Russia is prepared to jointly develop rare earth metals with the U.S. and other foreign partners. This statement came after Trump revealed ongoing discussions about economic cooperation with Russia.
Putin also mentioned the possibility of joint projects with the U.S. regarding Russia’s aluminum resources. He said, "During the Soviet era, there were plans to build a new hydroelectric power plant in Krasnoyarsk and add aluminum production facilities."
Additionally, Putin suggested that Russia and the U.S. could agree to cut defense budgets by 50%, and that China might join this effort. He said, "We think it’s a good proposal and are ready to discuss it." Putin’s proposal to cut defense spending by half is interpreted as a response to Trump’s remarks. On the 13th, Trump said, "One of the first summits I want to hold after settling everything is with President Xi Jinping of China and President Putin," adding, "I want to tell them to cut defense budgets in half."
Macron and Trump Differ on Russia-Ukraine War End... Agree on Deploying Peacekeeping Forces
Meanwhile, the summit between President Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron revealed clear differences in how the U.S. and France view ending the Ukraine war. Trump said, "Our focus is on achieving a ceasefire as soon as possible and establishing lasting peace," emphasizing, "The most important thing is that now is the right time and perhaps the only time." In contrast, Macron said, "We want a ceasefire that ends the conflict and enables measurable, verifiable, and sustainable peace negotiations."
However, both countries reached a consensus on deploying peacekeeping forces. Regarding whether Putin would accept the deployment of European peacekeepers, Trump responded, "He will accept it. No problem."
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