[marktwain]

So much for Russia only wanting a limited portion of Ukraine!

The Russian propaganda is all over the place. I suspect this is hardline propaganda for the internal audience of Russia.

I doubt it reflects the thinking of President Putin.

[spintreebob]

Russia can only wage war when it sells gas at high prices.

Drill Baby Drill . Bring down the worldwide price so low that Russia cannot finance the war. Of course, the US and entire world would have cheap energy. Everybody wins
(except those of a certain end-of-world religion.)

[Pete Dovgan]

“Trump has finally pressured the Kiev regime to pay for US aid with mineral resources,” Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev said on Telegram. “Now, the country that is about to disappear will have to use its national wealth to pay for military supplies.”

What did Russians think was going to happen. The US gets an interest in the nation, which means if they decide to pull another event of “Vlad the Invader” they are going to threaten the US directly. IF the Russians didn’t want this, they could have made peace already.

Frankly, the Russians shouldn’t look at this as lemons, they should look at it as potential lemonade for business. I could be really good for everyone.

[McGruff]

“Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev said on Telegram”

He's like Russia's John McCain.

[Worldtraveler once upon a time]

--- "Trump has finally pressured the Kiev regime to pay for US aid with mineral resources...."

An interesting quote, irrespective of the source. Would you say it is an accurate statement?

[Socon-Econ]

In this article, the NY Post, which heavily favors Zelensky, is trying to instigate a needless dispute between Russia and the USA. The minerals deal can be considered in any agreement between Russia and the USA. There’s room for tradeoffs.

[pierrem15]

It would be funny if Trump asked Russia to evacuate from mineral resources of which the US was now effectively co-owner.

[Kazan]

There is NO scenario where we should be giving another penny to Ukraine beyond what already has been authorized given our massive national debt and the fact there is absolutely no national interest in Ukraine.

It would destroy the work DOGE has done.

The mineral deal is absolutely about GETTING OUR MONEY BACK and about giving Ukraine some future for protection in what's left of it.

Trump would destroy his Presidency and own the war if he decided to authorize more money or weapons for Ukraine. Fortunately, I'm sure he knows that.

[DEPcom]

Speculative Trump-Led Ukraine Peace Framework

PHASE 1: MAXIMUM PRESSURE (Now–Mid 2025)

Objective: Build leverage over both allies and adversaries.

🔹 Tariffs on EU/China:

• Reintroduce or expand tariffs on EU goods (e.g., steel, autos) to apply pressure.
• Justify them publicly as “protecting American workers,” but signal privately they can be removed for cooperation on Ukraine peace.

🔹 Energy Leverage:

• Push EU to cut remaining Russian energy imports.
• Expand U.S. LNG exports to Europe, tying long-term contracts to peace coordination.

🔹 Ukraine Minerals Deal:

• Finalize and expand U.S. access to Ukraine’s critical raw materials.
• Builds U.S. economic interest in peace and a postwar reconstruction deal favoring U.S. firms.

🔹 Russia Messaging:

• Use unofficial channels (e.g., Orban, backchannel diplomats) to float sanctions relief for peace.
• Imply: “No NATO for Ukraine, but peace and economic normalization are on the table.”

PHASE 2: SHAPE THE FIELD (Late 2025)

Objective: Force concessions without revealing full plan.

🔹 EU Dealmaking Pressure:

• Push France/Germany: “You want peace? Help us make it happen, or face economic pain.”
• Offer to drop tariffs or give energy/security guarantees in return.

🔹 Undermine NATO Consensus Quietly:

• Encourage dissent within NATO (Hungary, Turkey, Slovakia) to lower resistance to peace deal terms.

🔹 Ukraine: Quiet Outreach to Zelensky or Successor:

• Offer "security light": not NATO, but U.S. guarantees, weapons, and investment.
• Promise massive U.S. postwar investment in exchange for ending the war.

PHASE 3: ANNOUNCE “THE DEAL” (Early–Mid 2026)

Objective: Present a take-it-or-leave-it framework with high public pressure.

🔹 Terms (likely):

• Ukraine gives up claims to Crimea and parts of Donbas.
• Ceasefire line becomes de facto border, monitored by neutral third parties (India, Turkey, or China).
• Russia withdraws from select zones; Ukraine commits to 15–20 years of non-NATO status.
• U.S./EU provide reconstruction funds.
• Russia receives phased sanctions relief.
• U.S. firms get exclusive rights to key Ukrainian resources and rebuilding projects.

🔹 Trump declares victory:

• Frames it as “the greatest peace deal of the 21st century.”
• Claims he ended the war and secured U.S. dominance in Eastern Europe.

PHASE 4: FORCE COMPLIANCE (2026–2027)

Objective: Ensure the deal holds long enough to reshape global order.

• Russia receives sanctions relief in phases tied to compliance.
• Ukraine becomes a fortified U.S.-backed buffer state.
• Russia leans back toward the West; China becomes more isolated.
• EU splits on the deal—some support, others see it as appeasement.

⚠️ Potential Risks

• Ukraine refuses territorial concessions.
• Putin overplays his hand or misreads U.S. intentions.
• Eastern Europe (Poland, Baltics) rejects compromise, increasing NATO tension.
• Russia uses a pause to regroup and later reignite conflict.

[PeterPrinciple]

I would suggest that Trump is intentionally turning this into a business arrangement rather than politics.

Politics is about ideology, players don’t’ move much on that.

Business arraignment with the USA, Russia, Ukraine and others changes the game a lot. Now there is self interest and we can begin to talk about win/win negotiation.

[mac_truck]

Ukraine isn’t gonna pay for anything and this minerals deal sounds more like a shell game you’d find on a street corner.

[wildcard_redneck]

I won’t miss the Ukraine. Will anybody else?

[rrrod]

Putin’s worst nightmare is Trump. Enjoy!!!

[Responsibility2nd]

How does the US giving 50 million or more to Ukraine help?

Arms for minerals?