• 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.----

  • @gdog05
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    286 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.

    • @[email protected]
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      22 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.

      • @gdog05
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        11 hour ago

        Exactly. He doesn’t have much to lose it doesn’t seem.

    • @[email protected]
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      186 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”

        • @NOT_RICK
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          63 hours ago

          “Donald Trump, hero of Ukraine” would be a pretty big ego stroke, I’d venture.

          • @notsoshaihulud
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            2 hours ago

            would be a pretty big ego stroke, I’d venture.

            did I hear big stroke?:)