Playing with fire is never a winning experience
Zelenskyy is a fool.
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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.
“Zelenskyy is a fool.”
Now we know both sides can’t be trusted.
I watched Bessent’s interview. He laid it out very succinctly. Trump needs to make this clear Truesday night.