Former President Trump is set to encounter Polish President Andrzej Duda this Saturday, with discussions regarding the ongoing conflict in Ukraine on the agenda, as per two sources with knowledge of the meeting.
Duda, a right-wing populist who maintains a close relationship with Mr. Trump, is visiting the U.S. for the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), where he is anticipated to have a meeting with Mr. Trump on the sidelines. Additionally, the former president is scheduled to address the conference on Saturday.
On Tuesday, Mr. Trump attributed responsibility for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine to Ukraine itself, asserting that the nation should not have initiated the conflict, despite the fact that Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. However, on Friday, he conceded in a radio interview that Russia had indeed attacked Ukraine.
“I’m not attempting to portray Putin in a positive light. I’m merely stating that this war should have never transpired,” Mr. Trump told Fox News’ Brian Kilmeade.
When asked on Friday if the U.S. was nearing an agreement regarding access to Ukraine’s rare earth minerals in exchange for military assistance, the former president responded.
“I believe we’re very close,” Mr. Trump remarked during a White House event. “Yes, I think they desire it. They are optimistic about it, and it represents a substantial — it’s a significant matter, but they want it, and it ensures our presence in that country. They are quite pleased about it, and it allows us to recoup our investment.”
The former president has framed this proposal as a means of returning the investment the U.S. has made in supporting Ukraine’s defensive measures, which has already surpassed $65 billion.
President Duda has urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to remain composed and to work collaboratively with the Trump administration.
“I have confidence in the goodwill and integrity which are foundational to the U.S. negotiation strategy,” Duda stated in a post on X. “I firmly believe that President Trump is driven by a profound sense of responsibility towards global stability and peace.”
The Polish leader will come with his own priorities, seeking further assurances regarding the continued presence of U.S. troops in Poland, a NATO ally. Earlier this week, Duda met with special envoy to Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, who informed him that the U.S. does not plan to decrease its troop numbers in the area.
During a 2018 visit to the White House, Duda proposed the establishment of a permanent U.S. base in Poland, suggesting it be named “Fort Trump.”
