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Inside the proposed U.S.-Ukraine minerals deal
Axios ^ | 2/24/2025 | Barak Ravid , Dave Lawler

Posted on 02/24/2025 8:14:55 AM PST by marcusmaximus

The U.S. and Ukraine are closing in on minerals agreement worth hundreds of billions of dollars under which the U.S. would express its desire to keep Ukraine "free, sovereign and secure," according to a draft obtained by Axios.

-snip-

A Ukrainian official told Axios a deal is close and could be signed as soon as Monday. The official said the document Axios has reviewed is the most recent version, but could still be amended.

Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Olga Stefanishyna confirmed in an X post Monday that the sides were close to a deal, and said signing it would "showcase our commitment for decades to come."

Driving the news: The draft agreement calls for the establishment of a "Reconstruction Investment Fund" that will be co-managed by the U.S. and Ukraine.

Key quote: "The Government of the United States of America intends to provide a long-term financial commitment to the development of a stable and economically prosperous Ukraine," the draft says.

It adds that the fund will be designed "so as to invest in projects in Ukraine and attract investments to increase development," including in areas like mining and ports.

But it also suggests the U.S. will recoup some of its expenditures related to "defending, reconstructing, and returning Ukraine" to its pre-war GDP.

-snip-

The intrigue: The draft seen by Axios expresses a desire that Ukraine remain free, but does not specify any U.S. military commitment.

(Excerpt) Read more at axios.com ...


TOPICS: Chit/Chat
KEYWORDS: rareearthminerals; ukraine
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1 posted on 02/24/2025 8:14:55 AM PST by marcusmaximus
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To: marcusmaximus

So apparently the Alt Left would rather China get control.


2 posted on 02/24/2025 8:18:21 AM PST by MNJohnnie (Don't blame me, my congressman is MTG!)
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To: marcusmaximus

Ukraine has a larger territory than anyone in the EU. The territory hold vast mineral resources. Investment will not flow into Ukraine until its military situation stabilizes. So far, the “negotiations” consisted of Trump telling Zelinski to sign the deal as payment for U.S. grants already received. Zelinski refused, and Trump went ballistic and called him a dictator. Russia is now using donkeys to transport supplies as in Tsarist times, and Ukraine is getting billions from Europe. Ukraine may not need the U.S. to help them now. Although such help is appreciated, Ukraine may not need to pay for it with this deal.


3 posted on 02/24/2025 8:22:41 AM PST by Dr. Franklin ("A republic, if you can keep it." )
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To: Dr. Franklin

There will be a minerals deal soon and a ceasefire by Easter.


4 posted on 02/24/2025 8:24:48 AM PST by marcusmaximus
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To: marcusmaximus

A deal like this theoretically allows Trump to reverse course and support Ukrainian independence by giving the US a stake in an independent Ukraine.


5 posted on 02/24/2025 8:27:20 AM PST by marron
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To: All

More:

It also stipulates that Ukraine must contribute $500 billion to the fund — and that Ukraine’s contributions must be double the U.S contributions — but it does not call for that sum to be paid to the U.S.

The draft calls for 50% of Ukraine’s revenues (minus operating expenses) from “extractable materials” — including minerals, oil and gas — be paid into the fund.

The text contains a provision referring to projects in areas “temporarily occupied by the Russian Federation, in the event such areas are de-occupied.”


6 posted on 02/24/2025 8:42:24 AM PST by marcusmaximus
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To: marcusmaximus

A horrific idea. Ukraine is utterly corrupt. DC is corrupt and in the middle of reform that -might- succeed. A mineral deal with Ukraine will do two things. It will permanently tie DC to the Ukrainian government forever. We will never be able to drop that tar baby.

Two, if you have a recovering drunk, the last thing you do is pair them up with a full blown alcoholic. A patent will ensure the reforms in DC fail and the corruption quickly returns.

This mineral deal is a sop to blackrock and nothing else.


7 posted on 02/24/2025 8:45:00 AM PST by DesertRhino (2016 Star Wars, 2020 The Empire Strikes Back, 2025... RETURN OF THE JEDI...)
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To: All

Draft Minerals deal text at link:

https://x.com/visegrad24/status/1894065596729327806


8 posted on 02/24/2025 8:45:55 AM PST by marcusmaximus
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To: marron

“ allows Trump to reverse course and support Ukrainian independence by giving the US a stake in an independent Ukraine.”

Just what America needs…a stake in Ukraine. Any advice on how to catch bone cancer?


9 posted on 02/24/2025 8:46:38 AM PST by DesertRhino (2016 Star Wars, 2020 The Empire Strikes Back, 2025... RETURN OF THE JEDI...)
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To: DesertRhino

Putin needs sanctions relief by Easter. He’s sold off half of Russia’s gold reserves to keep his economy afloat. This is all part of President Trump’s ceasefire negotiations. And setting the stage for peace deal and reconstruction.


10 posted on 02/24/2025 8:49:51 AM PST by marcusmaximus
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To: marcusmaximus

The Ukraine desperately needs this deal

The US has been floating pretty much the entire Ukrainian economy during the war.

In fact , US economic aid pretty much is the Ukrainian economy these days

As soon as US stops providing the funds that are propping up the Ukraine’s economy the economy will collapse in very short order

This is just for day to day funding to pay the bills to keep the lights on and does not even take into account the massive life support the Ukraine needs to rebuild the destruction from three years of war

Trump is trying to do a win - win joint venture deal to fund the short term needs of the Ukraine, to fund its reconstruction and to provide a solid economic future for the Ukrainian people that keeps vultures and carpetbaggers from stealing the resources of the Ukraine and making the Ukrainian people serfs to their new globalist overlords

Hope he succeeds


11 posted on 02/24/2025 8:56:46 AM PST by rdcbn1 (TV )
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To: marcusmaximus

We have something Ukraine wants. Ukraine has something we want. Sounds like a deal is coming.


12 posted on 02/24/2025 8:59:08 AM PST by hinckley buzzard ( Resist the narrative.)
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To: rdcbn1

This is a reconstruction deal that locks in Ukraine as much US oversight as possible to try to stop the corruption free for all that will happen once the war stops. Even Russia is offering to allow their $300 billion in frozen funds to be used for Ukrainian reconstruction as long as Russia gets to choose the reconstruction vendors and contracts. It’s going to be a free for all and President Trump wants to do what can be done on the US end.


13 posted on 02/24/2025 9:07:28 AM PST by marcusmaximus
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To: marcusmaximus
There will be a minerals deal soon and a ceasefire by Easter.

Maybe, unless the Europeans actually step up with military and economic aid. Collectively they have many times Russia's GDP and their arms industries are not totally incapable. In fact, US weapons use many components bought from Europe or made under license, like the thermal sights for M1s that are licensed from Thales.

Everyone should be aware that the purpose of the US negotiations, besides the monetary side, is to enmesh the US so deeply into Ukraine's infrastructure that Russia cannot attack it without risking a confrontation with the US. It's a clever backdoor security guarantee that allows Putin to "declare victory" with no NATO (for the moment).

14 posted on 02/24/2025 9:24:57 AM PST by pierrem15 ("Massacrez-les, car le seigneur connait les siens" )
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To: rdcbn1
The US has been floating pretty much the entire Ukrainian economy during the war.

False. The EU has provided substantially more economic assistance than the US.

In fact , US economic aid pretty much is the Ukrainian economy these days

False. As above, plus Ukraine has its own trade with the EU plus is still exporting grain.

As soon as US stops providing the funds that are propping up the Ukraine’s economy the economy will collapse in very short order

False, for the reasons stated above.

You guys need to get your facts straight.

15 posted on 02/24/2025 9:29:20 AM PST by pierrem15 ("Massacrez-les, car le seigneur connait les siens" )
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To: marcusmaximus

Would not be shocked to see Macron and the rest of the Eurozone jumping onboard the Trump Plan now that they realize that their schemes for the steal of the century in post war Ukraine are not going to happen


16 posted on 02/24/2025 9:46:12 AM PST by rdcbn1 (TV )
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To: rdcbn1

Every country is vying for their piece of the steal of the century that will happen with Ukraine reconstruction contracts. And the big winners will be China, Russia and Turkey.


17 posted on 02/24/2025 9:52:36 AM PST by marcusmaximus
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To: All

Keep in mind the massive want for Ukraine is security. In the future. If USA was in the country mining/exploring, Russia would not attack or invade. In a sense, it is a security blanket for Ukraine, and a “threat” to Russia that any attack on a US project would bring the boot of NATO and the USA down upon them.

I just wish Crimea would be returned. Since most of the fleet of Russia has been sunk by drones, they may not need a warm water port anymore. They don’t have anything to float from there.

Gwjack


18 posted on 02/24/2025 9:58:55 AM PST by gwjack (May God give America His richest blessings.)
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To: marcusmaximus
Even Russia is offering to allow their $300 billion in frozen funds to be used for Ukrainian reconstruction as long as Russia gets to choose the reconstruction vendors and contracts.

Read the fine print. Russia only agrees to rebuild in areas they get to occupy, as they have annexed them. So, it rewards Russia changing its borders by force and conquest. That doesn't sound like a good deal, or very smart to reward aggression.
19 posted on 02/24/2025 10:12:38 AM PST by Dr. Franklin ("A republic, if you can keep it." )
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To: Dr. Franklin

It’s looking like Russia will turn back occupied territory in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia as part of the President Trump’s peace deal in exchange for land transit rights from Russia to Crimea. And Russia keeps Crimea and occupied territory in Luhansk and Donetsk. Istanbul remains the framework.


20 posted on 02/24/2025 10:25:21 AM PST by marcusmaximus
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