Authored by Dave DeCamp via AntiWar.com,
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed interest in President Trump’s proposal for a deal involving the US accessing Ukraine’s rare earth minerals in exchange for continued military aid in an interview on Friday.
“If we are talking about a deal, then let’s do a deal, we are only for it,” Zelensky told Reuters. He emphasized that the deal would be a partnership and not a giveaway of Ukraine’s resources.
“The Americans helped the most, and therefore, the Americans should earn the most. And they should have this priority, and they will. I would also like to talk about this with President Trump,” Zelensky added.
Trump had previously mentioned wanting a guarantee of access to Ukraine’s rare earth minerals in exchange for military aid, citing the significant financial support provided by the US.
Despite Trump’s desire to end the conflict in Ukraine, the proposed deal for continued military aid suggests a belief that the US will continue supplying weapons, a move that Russia is unlikely to accept as part of any potential peace agreement.
Senator Lindsey Graham has frequently highlighted Ukraine’s rare earth minerals as a reason to prolong the conflict, emphasizing the financial stakes involved. However, the majority of these resources are currently under Russian control in Eastern Ukraine or the annexed territories, posing a significant challenge to any potential deal.
“Ukraine’s ready to do a deal with us, not the Russians. So it’s in our interest to make sure that Russia doesn’t take over the place,” Senator Graham stated, highlighting a different perspective from the mainstream narrative surrounding the conflict.
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