Colombia's president slams Ukraine's plan to sign precious metals deal with US as 'stupidity'

[Judi Lynn]

'Zelenskyy's stupidity, and I say this clearly, for allowing himself to be manipulated by Western Europeans, who do not know where they are going, whether towards Hitler or towards nothing,' says Gustavo Petro

Zeynep Katre Oran and Seda Sevencan |
26.02.2025 - Update : 26.02.2025

ANKARA/ISTANBUL

The Colombian president on Wednesday criticized Ukraine’s reported plan to sign a deal allocating a portion of the country's precious metal revenues to the US, calling its President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s "stupidity."

“Zelenskyy's stupidity, and I say this clearly, for allowing himself to be manipulated by Western Europeans, who do not know where they are going, whether towards Hitler or towards nothing; they fight with their Slavic brothers and end up giving Ukraine to the Americans. !Stupidity!” Gustavo Petro said in a statement on X, alongside a news report about Ukraine's potential deal with Washington.

On Feb. 3, US President Donald Trump said Washington was interested in acquiring rare earth minerals from Ukraine. Trump said the war in Ukraine must end and emphasized that if the US continues to support Kyiv, there should be something in to the meeting amid ongoing negotiations over a critical minerals deal.

"I hear that he's coming on Friday. Certainly, it's okay with me if he'd like to, and he would like to sign it together with me. And I understand that's a big deal, a very big deal," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office, referring to the agreement that would see Ukraine share a portion of its critical mineral revenues with the US.

More:
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/americas/colombias-president-slams-ukraines-plan-to-sign-precious-metals-deal-with-us-as-stupidity-/3493785