Posted on 03/02/2025 3:38:22 PM PST by Macho MAGA Man
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent revealed in an exclusive interview with Laura Ingraham on The Ingraham Angle that this is the third time Zelensky has refused to sign a mineral agreement, leaving U.S. officials stunned.
Bessent, who has been instrumental in facilitating economic partnerships between the U.S. and Ukraine under President Trump’s administration, detailed how Zelensky’s erratic behavior has put critical negotiations in jeopardy.
The agreement, which would have secured billions in U.S. aid in exchange for access to Ukraine’s rare earth minerals, was expected to cement a stronger economic and strategic alliance between the two nations.
“This has to be one of the greatest diplomatic mishaps of all time by President Zelensky,” Bessent stated during his interview.
He recounted how Zelensky initially refused to sign the deal during a direct meeting with him in Kyiv. Subsequently, Zelensky dodged similar negotiations with Vice President J.D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
(Excerpt) Read more at thegatewaypundit.com ...
Playing with fire is never a winning experience
Zelenskyy is a fool.
———-
President Trump may be one to if he continues to make deals with Zelensky. Just one check on all the loans the World Bank, IMF, etc made to Ukraine, many were defaulted on, renegotiated, etc.since they became a “ country” in 1991.
The old EU saying, “ When shaking hands with a Ukrainian, be sure to check how many fingers he stole”.
The world’s financial banking system knows this.
He can’t guarantee the security of the mineral deal if the USA won’t give guarantees AND won’t let anyone else provide the guarantees.
Speaking as someone whose day job it is to assess contracts for risk vs reward, there is an insurmountable risk, to Ukraine, if it commits to giving America a return on the investment but is unable to deliver because Russian forces keep attacking the operation.
Ukraine had that BS to deal with when it had contracts with Russia that Russia had set up to fail; it’s not so stupid as to walk into the same trap with the USA.
I suspect the EU will offer a mineral deal that leaves Ukraine keeping more of the return and with far less uncertainty on security - they might even say to Zelensky, you won’t have to sign until after Erdoğan has engaged with Moscow to discuss how to construct an acceptable peacekeeping force (e.g. from Middle Eastern countries that are not NATO affiliated).
Last night on NEWSMAX Col. Tony Schaefer shared a screenshot documenting that Zelensky and UL PM Starmer actually signed a mineral deal before Trump’s inauguration. He contended that Trump knew about that deal and that Zelensky was just playing Trump with the negotiations . . . Zelensky was just being the liar and con man he is. Trump kept his composure better than I would have.
“”He recounted how Zelensky initially refused to sign the deal during a direct meeting with him in Kyiv. Subsequently, Zelensky dodged similar negotiations with Vice President J.D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.””
He - being the Treasury Secretary - this is the 2nd thread on this topic and I’ll ask the same question I asked on the other thread - WHY wasn’t the meeting cancelled at the WH if that was the case.. Certainly he and Vance and Rubio informed Trump of this. Just seems mighty peculiar that the meeting wasn’t cancelled...I didn’t get an answer the first time I asked the same question and don’t expect one here either.
So far Zelenskyy already signing a mineral deal hasn’t been confirmed. But the treatment by UK Starmer is peculiar.
“Zelenskyy is a fool.”
Now we know both sides can’t be trusted.
Trump kept his composure better than I would have.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I’m not about to second-guess PDJT on this because he is always way ahead with his moves... but this entire thing with the ‘rare earth minerals’ seems like a bit of a smoke and mirrors game. Someone can correct me but I don’t believe there are any currently active projects in Ukraine... and worse, is the geography in question where these rare earth minerals are supposedly located under control of Russia right now?
I don’t know about the location of the minerals. Col. Tony Schaefer said on Newsmax last night said that Zelensky signed a mineral deal with UK’s Starmer before Trump was inaugurated. A Frreper on another thread said that had not been confirmed. I looked at the mineral agreement as the US taking a national interest in a tangible resource and legitimacy in telling Putin to keep his hands off. I don’t know what the truth is. But it looks to me like we have washed our hands of Ukraine. I doubt Europe is going to be a good big brother to Ukraine as it relates to Russia.
A deal can be made with Russia.
I agree with your point. Going ahead with a press conference when there was no signed deal was foolish.
Some people are slower than molasses in the winter time ...
I watched Bessent’s interview. He laid it out very succinctly. Trump needs to make this clear Truesday night.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.