WASHINGTON (AA) - US President Donald Trump on Saturday said the US is "pretty close to a deal" with Ukraine, saying his intent to recover the aid Washington has provided during its war against Russia.
"Europe has given $100 billion. The United States has given $350 billion because we had a stupid, incompetent president and administration," he told the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC).
"I want them to give us something for all of the money that we put up," he said. "So, we're asking for rare earth and oil, anything we can get."
"So, we're getting our money back. We're going to get our money back because it's not fair. It's just not fair," he said. "And we will see. But I think we're pretty close to a deal, and we better be close to a deal."
According to the interagency oversight group, The US Congress appropriated nearly $183 billion to Ukraine since the Russian war started in February 2022.
He also reiterated his goal of ending the war in Ukraine, calling it a "horrible situation."
"I've spoken to President Putin and I think that thing's got to end, it's got to end," Trump said. "I'm dealing with President Zelensky. I'm dealing with President Putin."