Ukrainian officials were told not to sign an agreement with the U.S. on rare earth minerals because the document focused on U.S. interests

Summary

Ukrainian officials were advised not to sign a U.S. proposal on accessing rare earth minerals, as it prioritized U.S. interests and lacked security guarantees for Ukraine, according to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

The document, presented by U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bassent during a Kyiv visit, was intended as compensation for U.S. aid.

Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, Zelenskyy stressed any agreement must ensure both financial benefits and security for Ukraine amid ongoing Russian aggression, and Ukraine is preparing a counter proposal.

  • Arghblarg@lemmy.caEnglish
    1·
    3 days ago

    OK, but regardless of who supplies them, if Ukraine had a few under their own control, for better or worse it would give them a deterrent they never should have been swindled into letting go of. Sucks, but it seems any nation that doesn’t have nukes is at an extreme disadvantage in defending its sovereignty.

    In fact, I think it would be worth it to put a few nukes in every NATO nation bordering Russia or its smaller, unprotected ex-satellites. Putin will grandstand about it but is he really going to start WWIII on it? If he was willing to do so, he already would have when other nations began sending conventional military aid to Ukraine. His bluff needs to be called and he needs to be forced to back down.

    • Bloomcole@lemmy.worldEnglish
      14·
      3 days ago

      Your (luckily hypothetical) suggestion is wrong and extremely dangerous in many ways.
      WW3 nuclear dangerous.
      To name just one reason, Russia did not tolerate Ukraine in NATO since that would mean nukes too close to Moscow and a well known red line.
      That will never fly.
      All this was stated by them and western expert fully understood and knew this would lead to war.
      I’ll leave it at that.

      • Arghblarg@lemmy.caEnglish
        32·
        3 days ago

        I know how dangerous it sounds. But every time Russia moves the line,the rest of the world is supposed to fall back? Moving arms into NATO countries sends a message, but it isn’t starting a war. Putin’s the one who actually invaded another country. Merely reinforcing defences is NOT starting the war. He started it and doesn’t want to die in a nuclear war any more than we do. So he’d complain bitterly but wouldn’t DARE make a move against it. Why hasn’t he already just nuked Ukraine (even ‘just a few’ tactical nukes?) if he believed he could ever survive doing so?

        • Bloomcole@lemmy.worldEnglish
          13·
          3 days ago

          I’m guessing you are young sice you make these wild statements. You have little understanding, restraint or tactical knowledge and are guided by anger that makes you even more prone to fatal and catastrophical mistakes. It is not Russia that moved the line but NATO. All the way from Germany to literally their border. Without even getting into thr geopolitical let me explain this AGAIN from a practical and military standpoint: Having nukes in a country like ukraine would already be a lossed cause for Russia. THey are literally too close to defend from. So even any attempt at putting them there is a life threathening situation and a guaranteed immediate WW3 no questions asked response. Nobody with a minimum of knowledge would be insane enough to call their bluff, not even Trump. you should learn that. The ones in Romania are just as far as is allowed. If you would’ve been in charge of either side for the last 10 years, we would all be dead.