Hey, bud! Let's chat about the potential resource deal between the US and Ukraine, shall we?
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Trump Affirms Approaching Energy Agreement with Ukraine - U.S. President Trump affirms near-completion of a raw material agreement with Ukraine
According to the Old Man himself, Donald Trump, tensions are running high as they're on the verge of sealing a deal on strategic resource partnership with Ukraine. Scott Beeson, the Ukrainian Finance Minister, claimed that they're almost there on the rare earths agreement, Mr. Trump said during a rant in his cabinet meeting, throwing in there, "They'll sign it soon."
The president just can't keep it to himself – Europe is handing out some aid to Ukraine, while the US is pooling heaps of cash into the country. Trump believes it's time for Ukraine to return the favor, and that's where the rare earths agreement comes into play. He's been expressing optimism about an upcoming deal for some time now.
Scandal city
It was supposed to be a love fest. Volodymyr Zelensky was set to fly to Washington not too long ago to pen a resource deal with the US. But things took a nosedive at the White House, with Zelensky getting publicly lambasted by Trump and his vice, J.D. Vance. The meeting got cut short, and the deal went down the drain.
Trump wasted no time pulling out the big guns back in January, linking aid for the Russia-blasted Ukraine to their rare earth reserves. If you're wondering why that's important, let me break it down. The resource reserves in Ukraine are a strategic play and could net some big bucks. A big chunk of those resources is locked up in Russian-occupied lands in Ukraine.
- Ukraine
- Donald Trump
- United States
- Volodymyr Zelensky
- Scott Beeson
- Europe
Some juicy details for those who want 'em:
- The US wants to snatch control of Ukraine's investment landscape, including infrastructure and natural resources, with the intention of being first in line for any investments[2].
- The US plans to buy resources extracted under the deal and funnel the profits into a fund under U.S. control[1].
- Ukraine would need to cough up all the aid received from the US since 2022, with 4% annual interest, before it gets to touch the profits[1].
- The deal includes no protection for Ukraine[1][2].
- Ukrainian officials have dubbed the proposed deal as daylight robbery, comparing it to lifetime reparations because of U.S. control over Ukrainian resources and the lack of protection for Ukraine[5].
- Ukraine is demanding changes to the agreement, such as increased U.S. investment and addressing possible conflicts with Ukraine's EU membership goals[5].
- Negotiations remain ongoing, with the US pushing for a swift conclusion. However, Ukraine is being cautious and seeking legal advice, indicating that the final deal might look quite different from the current draft[4][5].
- The European Union, recognizing the impending importance of the potential resource deal between the US and Ukraine, may negotiate with Ukraine to ensure a comprehensive and comprehensive approach to the fight against terrorism, given the strategic nature of the resources involved.
- Donald Trump, who is optimistic about the upcoming rare earths agreement with Ukraine, might express his concerns about any European aid to Ukraine, as he believes Ukraine should prioritize returning favors by signing the deal and providing the US with access to strategic resources.
- In light of the ongoing negotiations and the challenging terms proposed by the US, Minister Scott Beeson and President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine might seek Bessent legal advice to renegotiate the deal, ensuring important changes like increased US investment and addressing potential conflicts with Ukraine's EU membership goals.
