President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine, during a closed-door meeting on Wednesday, rejected an offer by the Trump administration to relinquish half of the country’s mineral resources in exchange for U.S. support, according to five people briefed on the proposal or with direct knowledge of the talks.

The unusual deal would have granted the United States a 50 percent interest in all of Ukraine’s mineral resources, including graphite, lithium and uranium, according to two European officials. Scott Bessent, the U.S. Treasury secretary, who presented the deal to Ukraine, said Sunday that the United States wanted the minerals “as payback for the aid we’ve given them” — leaving unclear whether the deal would cover future military and financial assistance.

A Ukrainian official and an energy expert briefed on the proposal said that the Trump administration sought not only Ukraine’s minerals but additional natural resources, including oil and gas. The proposal, they said, would entitle the United States to half of Ukraine’s resource earnings — funds that are today mostly invested in the country’s military and defense production.

MBFC

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  • 7U5K3N@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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    7 days ago

    Good. Fuck em (us) the USA shouldn’t shake down Ukraine for minerals with the empty promise of security.

    Ukraine should join NATO and they all should rally to support Ukraine. USA isnt dependable currently. And should be treated as hostile.

    Take it from me… an american, the US government is absolutely hostile towards folks. :(

    • MutilationWave@lemmy.world
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      7 days ago

      I have this terrible feeling that Turkey would veto, even if somehow we could distract Trump with enough McDonald’s and fake tits to try to get it done.

    • PlainSimpleGarak@lemmings.world
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      7 days ago

      As a US citizen, it’s never been hostile towards me. In fact, I would imagine most people have had little to no engagement with the federal government (outside of the routine items: taxes, etc…) Now, their state government may be a different story.