Former US Secretary of State Antony Blinken made a surprising revelation in a recent CNBC interview regarding President Trump’s controversial rare earth minerals deal with Ukraine. Blinken not only expressed approval for a similar plan that would benefit the US but also disclosed that the Biden administration was working on a comparable initiative, albeit with a different approach.
During the televised interview with journalist Andrew Ross Sorkin, Blinken mentioned that a rare earth minerals plan was part of the negotiations with Ukraine during the last six months of the Obama administration. He also highlighted some frustrations between the Biden administration and the Zelensky government, noting that the White House under Biden was pursuing a different strategy.
Biden was reportedly interested in investing directly in Ukraine’s rare earths sector, contrasting with Trump’s approach, which Blinken criticized as a “protection racket” without actual protection. Trump’s plan includes Ukraine reimbursing the US for assistance provided since February 2022.
The article also touches on the ongoing negotiations between Ukraine and the US, with Zelensky and his European allies hesitant about Trump’s plan but feeling pressured to consider it due to the threat of losing US support. The situation has led to intense discussions and widening demands from the White House.
Despite the complexities of the situation, Blinken’s revelations shed light on the intricacies of the rare earth minerals deal and the differing approaches taken by the Trump and Biden administrations. The article includes a link to the full CNBC interview for further insights into the topic.