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.
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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.
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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 ...
Actually, the effort involved in owning mineral rights involves getting paid per ton by the mine operators and counting the trucks to keep them honest.
This could get interesting if oligarch-owned mining companies start having their leases terminated.
why should the US want entaglements with these grifters?
i hope trump changes his mind on this...
Yeah... Ukraine is a sunk cost America needs to walk away from. All working with them will get us is DC entangled with Kiev forever, and more corruption. And the next time a Democrat is in the White House, the corruption will go into hyperdrive.
Walking away from monthly checks ain't too bright after everything we've spent, Tovarishch.
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