German Chancellor Olaf Scholz criticized President Donald Trump’s suggestion of linking continued US military aid for Ukraine to guaranteed access to its raw materials, including rare earths.

Ukraine, which is heavily reliant on Western weapons to fend off Russian President Vladimir Putin's ongoing full-scale invasion, faces a critical situation as resource-rich areas, like the Krutaja Balka site near Berdyansk on the country's southeastern coast, remain under Russian occupation.

Trump, who met with Zelenskyy in New York in September 2024, urged Putin to cease the war — or face sanctions — in a post on Truth Social on Jan. 22.