Posted on 03/24/2025 10:15:46 AM PDT by SoConPubbie
President Trump vowed to end the war in Ukraine, and true to his word, he has offered President Zelensky two smart, mutually beneficial deals: defense in exchange for access to minerals and defense in exchange for energy cooperation.
Both proposals would have strengthened Ukraine’s position while advancing U.S. strategic interests—yet Zelensky rejected them. It appears he prefers unconditional aid, giving nothing in return.
Meanwhile, Europe seems determined not only to prolong the war indefinitely but also to risk provoking Russia into a broader conflict that could spiral into World War III.
The first major deal President Trump offered to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was a strategic defense-for-minerals agreement that served the interests of both nations.
Under this deal, Ukraine would grant the U.S. access to critical mineral resources—such as rare earth elements—in exchange for increased American defense support.
This arrangement provided Ukraine with much-needed funding and a de facto security guarantee, as the presence of American personnel on the ground to safeguard mineral operations would serve as a deterrent to Russian aggression.
Crucially, the deal accomplished all of this without requiring Ukraine to join NATO, making it more acceptable to Russian President Vladimir Putin, who had long opposed NATO expansion.
The presence of Americans on key sites would have raised the stakes for any Russian attack, potentially deterring an invasion due to the risk of direct conflict with U.S. forces.
However, European leaders harshly criticized President Trump for proposing the defense-for-minerals deal, demanding instead that the United States continue its open-ended military support for Europe and financial aid to Ukraine.
Many in Europe labeled Trump a bully and an extremist for attempting to reshape the terms of engagement.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also rejected the offer, preferring unconditional financial aid over a mutually beneficial agreement.
Ironically, while condemning Trump’s proposal—which could have de-escalated tensions and provided a peaceful resolution—European nations have moved in the opposite direction.
They are rearming, expanding their militaries, approving a massive EU-wide military spending loan program, and even considering deploying troops directly to Ukraine, a move that could risk triggering World War III.
All the while, they continue to criticize the United States for stepping back from the war and exploring a diplomatic solution.
The new deal President Trump reportedly offered to Zelensky is centered around energy—specifically involving American investment and control in Ukraine’s energy sector.
Under this proposal, U.S. companies would help develop and secure Ukraine’s vast natural gas reserves and energy infrastructure, reducing both Ukraine’s and Europe’s dependence on Russian energy.
In return, Ukraine would receive financial assistance and a form of strategic protection through the presence of American energy experts and security personnel on the ground.
Similar to the earlier defense-for-minerals deal, this energy deal aims to create mutual benefits: economic support and increased security for Ukraine, and energy leverage and business opportunities for the U.S., all while avoiding direct NATO entanglement.
This would also place American personnel at key energy sites, again acting as a deterrent to Russian attacks.
The media often portrays President Trump as retreating from global diplomacy, but that characterization misses the mark.
His approach to Ukraine represents not a withdrawal, but a strategic shift—from open-ended military commitments to negotiated, mutually beneficial solutions.
Far from abandoning Ukraine, Trump has proposed deals centered on minerals and energy cooperation, which would provide Ukraine with economic and security support while advancing U.S. strategic interests.
These offers reflect a more nuanced foreign policy—one that prioritizes diplomacy, economic leverage, and national self-interest over endless foreign entanglements.
Critics call it isolationism, but many Americans see it as a practical alternative to pouring billions into a prolonged war with no clear endgame.
While the Biden administration continued to funnel weapons and aid into the conflict—with little progress toward peace—Trump’s strategy seeks to de-escalate tensions, avoid American casualties, and prevent a direct confrontation with nuclear-armed Russia.
His approach may be unpopular with the foreign policy establishment, which favors a U.S. that provides free money, generous aid, military protection, and accepts trade deficits with allies and partners.
But Trump’s strategy aligns with a growing public desire for smarter, more restrained engagement. What he offers is not retreat, but a recalibrated diplomacy—focused on peace through strength, mutual benefit, and strategic deal-making.
Europe is a continent in a constant state of war.
Better for us to stay out of it.
Thomas Jefferson.
True back then.
True today.
Zelensky’s ‘victory plan’ in 2023 was ‘Get the US into the Ukraine conflict directly’. It still is his plan. Z has rejected offers of UN ‘peace keepers’ because it doesn’t get the US into NATO.
I believe NATO nations are volunteering to put troops in to ‘punish Trump’ into getting into the Ukraine. “Don’t want us to start WWIII by putting NATO troops in Ukraine? Well then, do as we say - keep funding Ukraine and put troops in.”
Putin is so fixed on advancing into Ukraine and holding onto what he taken so far that he is leaving the rest of Russia comparatively undefended. It took Russia 6 months to eject the Ukrainians out of Kursk and now they are assaulting Belgorod. If the fighting continues, it seems improbable Russia will have the 100,000 combat-capable extra men available for the exercises announced in Western Belarus for the summer.
The Europeans have also significantly stepped up military and financial assistance: not only the EU but individual states such as Norway, Sweden, and Germany. The Ukrainians know that sometime soon US assistance will end, so US leverage over Ukraine is constantly diminishing and Trump's inability or unwillingness to bring any real pressure to bear on Russia means any implicit guarantee of American assistance in the face of future Russian aggression appears more and more worthless. Witkoff's comments about both Ukraine and Gaza seem particularly witless and reek of weakness not strength.
The likely outcome is likely to be more war, not less, and US will appear to be as feckless under Trump as it was under Biden.
Ukraine isn’t that far. How many troops has europe sent?
Exactly.
It’s not a ww without the US in it so we shouldn’t call it that.
Let them all go nuts on each other.
If it ends in nukes, well, none of us were gonna liver forever.
But at least we’ll face the same risk our soldiers face instead of them facing it alone in some WORTHLESS, BROKE HELLHOLE LIKE UKRAINE.
Ruzzia has 1/5th of YouCrayne.
Everyday day that goes by Ruzzia will take more YouCrayne Territory.
Foolish Zenesky.
Ukraine finds out Trump doesn’t play Let’s Make a Deal.
? I read recently that he said that Israel can “deal” with Hamas, which strikes me as lunacy.
In the News/Activism forum, on a thread titled Trump’s Ukraine Deals: No Blank Checks, No World War, pierrem15 wrote: The Europeans have decided that keeping the Russian army pinned in Ukraine will give them breathing room to rearm.
ransomnote: That's hallucinogenic levels of propaganda - the Ukraine troops are surrounded in Kursk and losing the war across the board.
They simply see that as in their national interest since they no longer consider the US a reliable ally.
ransomnote: Trump is cutting off their unlimited money supply. Now they are looking for another host to parasitize.
The Europeans have 2.8 million men under arms on paper. If the Ukrainians keep the bulk of the Russian army pinned down (YOU HAVE TO BE KIDDING!!! YOU HAVE TO BE!) and a modicum of forces are deployed to Baltics, Putin's ability to throw a mob of a couple hundred thousand Russians (RUSSIA'S ARMY DWARFS THE UKRAINE'S) into the Baltics will be severely diminished. British and French nukes are more than adequate to barbecue most of Russia. (AS IF THERE WOULD BE NO RESPONSE FROM RUSSIA? WOULD WWIII MAKE YOU HAPPY?)
Putin is so fixed on advancing into Ukraine and holding onto what he taken so far that he is leaving the rest of Russia comparatively undefended. It took Russia 6 months to eject the Ukrainians out of Kursk and now they are assaulting Belgorod. If the fighting continues, it seems improbable Russia will have the 100,000 combat-capable extra men available for the exercises announced in Western Belarus for the summer.
ransomnote: Putin's forces continue to advance as Ukraine loses more rapidly.
'Leaving the rest of Russia comparatively undefended'? AAAAAAHAHAHAHHAHAHA! Ukraine doesn't have adequate air defenses, but Russia does. Ukraine is sending MIG pilots and maintenance crews to the front line as if there aren't enough planes left for them to repair! For about a year and a half, NATO has been telling the Ukraine they don't have more ammo to give, and when Z sent men to Kursk, those remaining on the front lines were angry the sparse ammo supplies they had left were sent north. Your propaganda exceeds rational goals of influence.The Europeans have also significantly stepped up military and financial assistance: not only the EU but individual states such as Norway, Sweden, and Germany.
ransomnote: Yes - especially the UK, where they decided to 'appropriate' the savings accounts of its citizens to fund the war. Those nations couldn't come up with funding before so where are they getting the money now? Remember when they were going to seize the interest on Russia's frozen assets - none of the countries chose to take the risk and so backed away from prior funding promises.
The Ukrainians know that sometime soon US assistance will end, so US leverage over Ukraine is constantly diminishing and Trump's inability or unwillingness to bring any real pressure to bear on Russia means any implicit guarantee of American assistance in the face of future Russian aggression appears more and more worthless.
ransomnote: You clearly don't know Trump. Your expectations of NATO or EU support are remarkably uninformed.
Witkoff's comments about both Ukraine and Gaza seem particularly witless and reek of weakness not strength.
The likely outcome is likely to be more war, not less, and US will appear to be as feckless under Trump as it was under Biden.
ransomnote: NATO used Ukraine as their proxy in their war against Russia. NATO/Ukraine started this war after NATO armed Ukraine and built an army to take on Putin. NATO lost this war and still tries to make demands of Russia. NATO/UKRAINE want WWIII and will do or say anything to get it. Witkoff's comments reflect these facts.
Trump is not to blame for what Biden and Congress did to fuel and maintain this war, and the delusions of Zelensky.
Every day that goes by Ukraine will take more of Russia proper. Putin cannot attack other countries because there are not that many North Koreans available. Nor tanks, nor money, nor donkeys, nor gas to sell.
I think that means they can blow them to smithereens.
He’s stating what is obvious to anyone who has watched what Israel has done in the last 35-40 years when it had more than enough of Hamas/PLO and all their clones-Israel is a lion-not a wuss. They are quite capable of turning those terrorist nests sheltered by their neighbors into black glass parking lots if it becomes necessary-and as Martha Stewart says-its a good thing...
Ukraine blackmail money on the Bidens, paid for by the US taxpayers, is gone. That’s why there’s squeaking by the Bidens they want back into the limelight. They need cash to keep it all quiet.
It would be like the US invaded Mexico, almost got to Mexico City and was then beaten back to the northern provinces, struggled to advance, and then the Mexicans seized small parts of Arizona or New Mexico.
Pathetic.
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