It also sounds to me like it includes a lot of dodging around the US actually getting the minerals.
The final version of the agreement, dated Feb. 24, establishes a fund to which Ukraine will contribute 50% of proceeds from the “future monetization” of state-owned mineral resources, including oil, gas, and related logistics. The fund will invest in projects within Ukraine.
The deal excludes resources that already contribute to Ukraine’s state budget, meaning it will not cover operations by Naftogaz and Ukrnafta, the country’s largest oil and gas producers.
It’s not super-clear to me exactly how much the US gets, but it sounds like it might not be all that much. Maybe it was a way to give Trump a performative win, so he doesn’t cut off Ukraine’s aid completely, while leaving enough reasonableness in the details to avoid completely selling out the country to be a vassal of the US. Although I’m sure there will be some fuckery to come. Them’s the breaks sometimes when you are a small country fighting for your life.
Making a “deal” under which Trump doesn’t actually get anything substantive, but gets to crow about how he won with this deal, sounds like they understand how he operates. And they definitely weren’t getting security guarantees from Trump anyway.
Maybe. Like I say, I won’t swear there is not any fuckery afoot.
Yeah, it sounds like Ukraine did a good job of negotiating actually, got it to a pointless spot, asshole gets to pat himself on the back about how strong a negotiator he is, and Ukraine gets this stupid deal not being the primary headline anymore and can go back to actual discussions with leaders who care about things that matter.
It also sounds to me like it includes a lot of dodging around the US actually getting the minerals.
It’s not super-clear to me exactly how much the US gets, but it sounds like it might not be all that much. Maybe it was a way to give Trump a performative win, so he doesn’t cut off Ukraine’s aid completely, while leaving enough reasonableness in the details to avoid completely selling out the country to be a vassal of the US. Although I’m sure there will be some fuckery to come. Them’s the breaks sometimes when you are a small country fighting for your life.
Making a “deal” under which Trump doesn’t actually get anything substantive, but gets to crow about how he won with this deal, sounds like they understand how he operates. And they definitely weren’t getting security guarantees from Trump anyway.
Maybe. Like I say, I won’t swear there is not any fuckery afoot.
Yeah, it sounds like Ukraine did a good job of negotiating actually, got it to a pointless spot, asshole gets to pat himself on the back about how strong a negotiator he is, and Ukraine gets this stupid deal not being the primary headline anymore and can go back to actual discussions with leaders who care about things that matter.