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Saturday, Feb 22, 2025
Outside the box.
U.S. Officials Urge Ukraine to Finalize $500 Billion Mineral Deal Amid Diplomatic Tensions
White House advisers recommend reduced criticism of Trump in exchange for significant economic agreement with the U.S.
U.S. national security adviser Mike Waltz has advised Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, to temper his criticism of former President Donald Trump and to consider a proposed $500 billion deal that would transfer a substantial portion of Ukraine’s mineral wealth to the United States.
Waltz’s remarks came during an interview in which he emphasized that U.S. support for Ukraine has been significant and suggested that Kyiv’s resistance to the deal could harm ongoing diplomatic relations.
The proposed agreement includes extensive natural resources, particularly oil and gas, and has been positioned as a form of ‘payback’ for U.S. military assistance provided to Ukraine throughout the conflict.
Waltz articulated that recent rhetoric from Kyiv towards the Trump administration was “unacceptable” and stated that Trump is dissatisfied with Zelenskyy’s reluctance to engage in the proposed deal.
In a recent communication, Trump referred to Zelenskyy as a “dictator” and assigned blame to Ukraine for the ongoing war, triggering further tensions between the two leaders.
In contrast, Zelenskyy contended that Trump operates within a framework influenced by misinformation from the Kremlin.
In a noteworthy development, Keith Kellogg, Trump’s special envoy to Ukraine, canceled a scheduled press conference that was anticipated to occur in the Ukrainian capital following a meeting with Zelenskyy.
While details about the meeting remain limited, Zelenskyy remarked on the positive nature of discussions regarding battlefield conditions and the recovery of Ukrainian prisoners of war.
The announcement of the deal comes amidst growing skepticism within Ukraine regarding the potential for any agreement with Russia to be upheld, given President Vladimir Putin’s past objectives in the region.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance expressed optimism about the ongoing peace discussions with Russia, suggesting that a resolution could be imminent for the first time since the onset of the conflict.
Recent reports indicate a shift in U.S. diplomatic posture towards Ukraine, with the Biden administration reportedly declining to co-sponsor a draft United Nations resolution marking the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine—an unprecedented action since the war began.
Additionally, there have been procedural objections from U.S. envoys regarding language that labels Moscow’s actions as “aggression” in a separate G7 statement.
In related developments, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent indicated that adjustments to sanctions on Russia would be considered depending on Russia's willingness to negotiate, underscoring a complex dynamic where Ukraine’s alignment with U.S. interests appears to be under scrutiny.
Bessent visited Kyiv earlier in the week, relaying demands related to the mineral deal and articulating U.S. expectations in the context of previous assistance.
European leaders, including British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron, reaffirmed their support for Ukraine, while Zelenskyy expressed appreciation for international allies’ commitments to uphold security guarantees in light of ongoing threats.
As these geopolitical negotiations progress, the international reaction is being closely monitored, particularly in relation to the Kremlin’s responses to recent political rhetoric from Washington.
Waltz’s remarks came during an interview in which he emphasized that U.S. support for Ukraine has been significant and suggested that Kyiv’s resistance to the deal could harm ongoing diplomatic relations.
The proposed agreement includes extensive natural resources, particularly oil and gas, and has been positioned as a form of ‘payback’ for U.S. military assistance provided to Ukraine throughout the conflict.
Waltz articulated that recent rhetoric from Kyiv towards the Trump administration was “unacceptable” and stated that Trump is dissatisfied with Zelenskyy’s reluctance to engage in the proposed deal.
In a recent communication, Trump referred to Zelenskyy as a “dictator” and assigned blame to Ukraine for the ongoing war, triggering further tensions between the two leaders.
In contrast, Zelenskyy contended that Trump operates within a framework influenced by misinformation from the Kremlin.
In a noteworthy development, Keith Kellogg, Trump’s special envoy to Ukraine, canceled a scheduled press conference that was anticipated to occur in the Ukrainian capital following a meeting with Zelenskyy.
While details about the meeting remain limited, Zelenskyy remarked on the positive nature of discussions regarding battlefield conditions and the recovery of Ukrainian prisoners of war.
The announcement of the deal comes amidst growing skepticism within Ukraine regarding the potential for any agreement with Russia to be upheld, given President Vladimir Putin’s past objectives in the region.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance expressed optimism about the ongoing peace discussions with Russia, suggesting that a resolution could be imminent for the first time since the onset of the conflict.
Recent reports indicate a shift in U.S. diplomatic posture towards Ukraine, with the Biden administration reportedly declining to co-sponsor a draft United Nations resolution marking the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine—an unprecedented action since the war began.
Additionally, there have been procedural objections from U.S. envoys regarding language that labels Moscow’s actions as “aggression” in a separate G7 statement.
In related developments, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent indicated that adjustments to sanctions on Russia would be considered depending on Russia's willingness to negotiate, underscoring a complex dynamic where Ukraine’s alignment with U.S. interests appears to be under scrutiny.
Bessent visited Kyiv earlier in the week, relaying demands related to the mineral deal and articulating U.S. expectations in the context of previous assistance.
European leaders, including British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron, reaffirmed their support for Ukraine, while Zelenskyy expressed appreciation for international allies’ commitments to uphold security guarantees in light of ongoing threats.
As these geopolitical negotiations progress, the international reaction is being closely monitored, particularly in relation to the Kremlin’s responses to recent political rhetoric from Washington.
