4d ago

US presented Ukraine with a document to access minerals but offered almost nothing

www.independent.co.uk US presented Ukraine with a document to access minerals but offered almost nothing

Ukrainian officials were told not to sign an agreement with the U.S. on rare earth minerals because the document focused on U.S. interests

Summary

Ukrainian officials were advised not to sign a U.S. proposal on accessing rare earth minerals, as it prioritized U.S. interests and lacked security guarantees for Ukraine, according to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

The document, presented by U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bassent during a Kyiv visit, was intended as compensation for U.S. aid.

Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, Zelenskyy stressed any agreement must ensure both financial benefits and security for Ukraine amid ongoing Russian aggression, and Ukraine is preparing a counter proposal.

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I've known people like this, who just take whatever they want as if they're entitled to it, but never a country. Weird, gives me the same feeling as if it was a person doing it... like, get the hell outta here and go earn your own stuff.
- It’s a much more complicated issue than that. Think of how much we have given to Ukraine to support them. Some semblance of ‘repayment’ is fair. But taking 50% of their mineral wealth is absolutely ridiculous. That is, practically, their security and future.
  What good does it do to exacerbate their post war economic crisis? Nothing.
  Why are we giving them security now, if we’re going to take 50% of their security afterwards? It’s so fucking backward.
  
  Repayment is not at all what this is about. We are talking about a man who was impeached over demanding Zelenskyy provide political dirt on his opponent in exchange for not disrupting aid shipments.
  
  You said it yourself: given
  
  You’re implying that the military aid was “given”, as in: without expectation of repayment?
  Yeah, I thought the US saw this as a way to hurt Russia. Isn’t that what we were supposed to be getting out of the deal? Not fucking mineral wealth.
  Though, I still don’t think it’s so preposterous for the US to ask for some sort of repayment, for lack of a better word. Just not what the Trump administration is trying to do right now. What they’re asking for is far too consequential.
  
  Even with morals and literal colonialism aside, the US is not in any position to make demands as Europe is more than interested and willing to tide Ukraine over, carry it through this all.
  If the US wants to have money then stop donating and start selling instead, see if there's buyers. Simple as that. But then also don't expect to get a cut of the reparations.
  
  That’s an interesting point. They’re trying to become a part of the EU, right? You brought to my head the idea that, if they secured a deal with the EU, they could push for joining union and have those minerals contracted to be bought by the EU in the future, helping themselves and the rest of Europe.
  Does Europe have the military resources to make this viable though? Have all the EU nations combined supplied as much as the US has?
  It’s such a fucking mess, dude. Ugh.
  
  EU states don't have much surplus hardware standing around so we couldn't send Ukraine as much as the US did, but we do have armies that can roflstomp Russia. And from all I see everyone pretty much agrees that with the US betraying everything that means gloves off, the question is more whose boots on the ground, not that there are going to be boots on the ground. Somewhat awkwardly everyone is looking at Germany and we're having elections this Sunday.
  Either way with or without boots on the ground we do produce our own military hardware, and could expand production very quickly the issue so far has been committent to buy lots of stuff so that companies are comfortable investing in the production lines.
  As far as mineral resources are concerned: Meh. I mean it's nice to have but joining the EU is not a matter of bribing the EU. Your economy must be strong and developed enough to be able to cope with competitive pressures in the single market, some stuff about balanced state budgets, that's all we don't mind if you're poor, we can fix that.
  
  I just wanna say thanks for the dialog. I really appreciate your helping me understand and expanding on my thoughts.
  Hope you’re well, G.
  
  I understand it's not as simple as a personal one-on-one relationship... I was just remarking that it gives me the same feeling as if it was. Much of what's happening right now feels very personal to me, even though I know it isn't... when I find myself worrying about my loved ones and their futures, for example, I take it very personally what Trump's doing.
- They let you do it when you're famous dontchaknow? Or so I've heard.
- It is a person doing it. Just happens to be running the country.
  
  Unfortunately, a lot of people in that country support him, so he's not alone.

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