Posted on 02/20/2025 11:30:59 AM PST by marcusmaximus
The Trump administration has given Ukraine an "improved" draft for a minerals agreement between the countries, after President Volodmyr Zelensky infuriated President Trump by rejecting his initial offer, a Ukrainian official, a U.S. official and three sources with knowledge tell Axios.
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Sources on both sides now say a deal is now looking more likely.
A source with knowledge said several of Zelensky's aides have encouraged him to sign the updated proposal to avoid a further clash with Trump and allow the U.S. president to justify further U.S. support for Ukraine.
"There was significant improvement in the recent draft and it is in conformity with Ukrainian law," the source said.
National security adviser Mike Waltz told reporters Thursday that Zelensky needed to "come back to the table" on the minerals issue.
"This is a negotiation. And in a negotiation, you negotiate. Ukraine wants to negotiate minerals, so we're talking about it," a White House official said.
-snip-
The draft agreement said 50% of the resulting revenues would be given to the U.S., that the agreement would be under the jurisdiction of a New York court, and the deal would override any of Ukraine's other trade agreements, according to two sources who read the original draft.
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Several days later, when Zelensky met Vice President Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Munich, they presented him with a less binding draft memorandum of understanding about the mining of minerals, a Ukrainian official said.
Zelensky told Vance and Rubio he couldn't sign because under the Ukrainian constitution, such an agreement must be approved by parliament.
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A Ukrainian official, a U.S. official and two sources with knowledge told Axios that in recent days negotiations continued, with the U.S. presenting Ukraine with an updated version that addressed some of Zelensky's concerns.
(Excerpt) Read more at axios.com ...
MarkyMax! There you are!!
We were beginning to wonder about you.
I’m listening to a press conference right now that sounds like WH officials are cutting your boy off (a.k.a. DOGE-ed).
Ya know - no weapons, money, and probably drugs.
So, I know it hasn’t been 3 days... but where do we go from here?
asking for a friend.
😂 😂
President Trump has just halted all U.S. arms shipments to Ukraine - including those intended for purchase - which are now on hold as well.
FAFO
Under the jurisdiction of a New York court? Please no. Keep EVERYTHING away from the NY judicial court system for crying out loud
With our recent actions with Ukraine we can kiss any agreement good-bye. Why should Ukraine give us anything if we are just going to throw them under the bus?
The art of the deal in real time.
“YOU GIVE US ALL THE MINERALS NOW!”
NO!
“You’re a dictator, and there should be a new election.”
Perhaps we can talk about the minerals after all.
It’s ugly, but effective!
How does this help the average American taxpayer?
“Why should Ukraine give us anything if we are just going to throw them under the bus?”
We’re not throwing them under the bus. We’re getting them a realistic peace settlment, and they’re going to pay for the aid we gave them. They did promise to pay.
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