Summary
Donald Trump stated that U.S. aid to Ukraine should be compensated with $500 billion worth of its mineral resources, including rare earth elements.
He claimed Ukraine had “essentially agreed” to this arrangement. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has hinted at allowing U.S. access to these resources to maintain support.
The idea aligns with Ukraine’s “victory plan” for post-war recovery.
Trump’s comments drew criticism, with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz condemning his approach as “very egotistic, very self-centered.”
So giving the US a real stake in the security of a non-NATO state is the worst thing in history now? How is this not a win-win for everyone except the military industrial complex who wants to see nothing but constant, bloody war?
“worst thing in history”, no.
“Terrible and exploitative, and untrustworthy besides”? Yes.
And to add to this point for everyone saying how high the number is, that’s how all geopolitical negotiations work. Trumpnjust doesn’t shut his mouth so we’re hearing the initial ridiculously higher proposal. I’d be willing to bet if this goes through the actual number is guna be closer to 2-2.5 billion. Half of the initial proposal. Not because Trump is fuckin savy but because that’s how this shit usually works.
Ukraine is getting the military support to hold its own. Plus a country’s ability to hold and repay debt is what the global economy runs on so having good credit with US will likely help them in the long run.
Half of the initial proposal is $250 billion, not $2.5 billion. $250 billion is the entire GDP of Ukraine. There is no world in which half a trillion is a sensible number here
Ukraine won’t have a GDP without continued American support (or if Europe gets their heads out of their ass(es), highly unlikely). Your proposal is… what exactly?
Historically, forcing a country into unreasonably high debt immediately following a war… is a pretty bad idea for literally all parties involved.
Europe is already doing more than America. But my proposal is that maybe we don’t extort the Ukrainians into oblivion
It probably will be $500 billion, but over 20 years and not factoring in investment costs.
It has the added bonus on being exactly the thing Russia invaded Ukraine over.