• In interview, Ukraine’s Zelenskiy offers mineral partnership to US

Zelenskiy emphasizes need for security guarantees in any deal

Ukrainian president keen to speak to Trump before Putin does Ukraine proposes using its gas storage for U.S. LNG supplies

KYIV, Feb 7 (Reuters) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy pored over a once-classified map of vast deposits of rare earths and other critical minerals during an interview with Reuters on Friday, part of a push to appeal to Donald Trump’s penchant for a deal.

The U.S. president, whose administration is pressing for a rapid end to Ukraine’s war with Russia, said on Monday he wanted Ukraine to supply the U.S. with rare earths and other minerals in return for financially supporting its war effort.

“If we are talking about a deal, then let’s do a deal, we are only for it,” Zelenskiy said, emphasising Ukraine’s need for security guarantees from its allies as part of any settlement.----

  • Joe_A@lemmy.world
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    8 hours ago

    This was already agreed to last year, but Zelenskyy postponed the announcement specifically to appeal to Trump’s vanity. 

  • gdog05@lemmy.world
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    11 hours ago

    It’s very risky for Zelensky because there’s no good faith in any Trump deal. But, Zelensky really is playing it as smart as he can given the unstable governments he’s being forced to work with and against. He can give the moon to Trump in a string of further offers and promises and bank on either America coming to its senses or something reasonable happening in the future at which point he can renegotiate. He just needs to keep surviving and keeping Russia at bay.

    • Corngood@lemmy.ml
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      7 hours ago

      America coming to its senses or something reasonable happening in the future at which point he can renegotiate

      The flip side is if this doesn’t happen, then we’re all super fucked anyway.

    • corsicanguppy@lemmy.ca
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      11 hours ago

      Exactly.

      “I’m sorry about the slow pace of developing the mine for extraction, but we still need”

      • electricity
      • effective mass housing
      • clean water
      • reliable (ie wired) communications
      • food distribution
      • healthcare
      • police
      • lasting military (because you know those evil coward dems will pull out if they get back in; or some similar shit story)

      “So you see, oh smart and savvy business leader, we’re very close. Not long now”

  • wewbull
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    11 hours ago

    I can’t really criticise Zelenskiy, but I think it’s disgustingly exploitative to hold Ukraine over a barrel and say “Give me your wealth or I won’t help you”.

    Next time I see someone drowning I’ll be sure to take their wallet before I throw them a rope.

  • PapaSkwat@lemy.lol
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    9 hours ago

    None of the rest of the terms matter a lick if Ukraine is barred from joining NATO. That’d be gift wrapping Ukraine for Russia.

  • 11111one11111@lemmy.world
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    11 hours ago

    This sounds like Zelenskiy’s reply is exactly what Trump strokes his cock to. And I think it’s a great move. I think there is a chance the Putin narrative will change this Trump term compared to the last. Not in any way from a good decision sense. Rather from Trump’s ego making him think Putin is below him. Most agree Trump in term one either looked up to Putin or Putin had dirt on him. This term tho, Putin lost a ton of global clout. With all this in play its possible this could inadvertently turn out for the best. Trump flexes to Putin striking deal with Ukraine for resources. Ukraine gets military support. The move could carry massive weight at the global level that Putin can’t even control his prized pawn.

    This is all a fantasy in a vacume scenario prolly. Not a fantasy in the sense of a win for Trump but as a blow tp Putin. There are tons of ways this won’t happen most of which being Trump doing a ton of dumb as fuck shit in the time it takes to make a deal. But w/e one can hope.

    All this aside, I think this is a very savy move by Zelenskiy and adds some more admiration to my opinion of him as a leader.

  • adarza@lemmy.ca
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    12 hours ago

    in theory, profits from the minerals could get turned right around into aid for ukraine. it could work i suppose, but the startup and turnaround are too long.

    how it would play out, though, profits from the minerals end up in lord diaper’s and his comrades’ pockets, while ukraine gets nothing and loses everything.