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Terry's avatar

I'm so confused by all the comments. Didn't anyone know that Zelenskyy signed that minerals deal with trump? I'm disappointed in Zelenskyy, bending the knee, kissing the ring.

https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-us-rare-earth-minerals-deal-8566241ea0e121a30437d845357055d8

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Peggy Fahy's avatar

Zelenskyy didn’t” bend the knee and kiss the ring.” He acted as a true leader does by keeping his cool, not letting emotions cloud his judgement, and continuing to advocate for negotiations that would help Ukraines cause. If you read the agreement, you will notice two very strategic and important points.

First, officials emphasize that the agreement ensures full ownership of the resources remains with Ukraine, and the State will determine WHAT can be extracted and WHERE.

Second, NO profits will be taken from the minerals investment fund for the first 10 years.

Trump administration officials initially pushed for a deal in which Washington would receive $500 billion in profits from exploited minerals as compensation for its wartime support.

But Zelenskyy rejected the offer, saying he would not sign off on an agreement “that will be paid off by 10 generations of Ukrainians.”

The second point demonstrates how Zelenskyy was thinking ahead. He KNOWS that Trump’s goal was to take all the profits he could to enrich himself and his billionaire buddies, without any regard for Ukraine or its people. But rather than let ego rule his response, Zelenskyy let Trump have a “win” by agreeing to profits distribution 10 YEARS IN THE FUTURE. Trump will never live to see any of those profits, and Zelenskyy is taking a calculated risk that a Democratic President will be elected in the U.S. within that 10-year timeframe and will be amenable to reversing or modifying the agreement.

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Nicci's avatar

And, like his empty S Korean tariff agreement, drumpf gets a “win” to boast about on tv

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Terry's avatar

I know all that. I read the article. President Zelenskyy had other countries helping Ukraine. He didn't need to give up anything to the US.

Zelenskyy should have stood his ground. He has the Budapest Memorandum. The US signed that and isn't abiding by it. What agreement does trump ever agree to?

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Oaktown's avatar

More like what agreement does he ever keep, including the ones he agreed to.

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elliemae.padme66's avatar

I trust President Zelinsky, who's a smart lawyer, to know what's he's signing. Now, release the weapons for Ukraine 🇺🇦

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Terry's avatar

He got a law degree in 2003, but has never practiced law! He went from being a comedian to president. Not from lawyer to president. Again. Doesn't anyone read? President Zelenskyy (notice spelling) went to Kyiv National Economic University 1997-2003, graduating with a law degree. Never practicing law.

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Alice Neesley's avatar

But he at least KNOWS the laws of his country. Thats more than can be said for our president.

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olderwoman's avatar

So true Alice, so true.

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Ellen's avatar

Zelenskyy is an intelligent, competent leader. His country needs the money from this deal and HE made sure the deal was in the best interests of HIS country and its citizens ........NOT dumpy!!! STOP being a negative putz!!

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Deborah solleveld's avatar

I’m not that worried about it. It keeps rump interested in protecting his “investment “ and it can be adjusted when we have an honest president who believes in democracy.

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Terry's avatar

trump can yank this deal whenever he feels like it. Thinks he's given too much to Ukraine? He won't give anymore. It's not like he's honoring the Budapest Memorandum. It's not like trump is an honorable man.

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Jackie C.'s avatar

I read about that too. Now I'm wondering if it's even real. Maybe the minerals deal is only a small part of it. Lots left to negotiate.

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Terry's avatar

It's very real, very much up to trump. trump could sweep in, strip that land of millions in their minerals, and Ukraine gets nothing in weaponry, except empty promises. It's what happens when you believe a conman.

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Pam Edgeworth's avatar

The way the deal is written, tRump doesn't have any say in what gets mined and when. Ukraine keeps all of the ownership. While tRump may try to strong arm them into doing certain types of mining, it'll be difficult if not impossible for him to actually DO anything.

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Bj5276's avatar

Yes I’m concerned that Rump will keep his side.

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Ruthy Wexler's avatar

What a smart comment. I never thought of that. Zelensky, however you spell it, clearly did. Thx.

I think Ukranians understand if we spell Zelensky the way we've seen it. It's the respect we give or don't give him they care about. I deeply respect him.

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Lillian Holsworth's avatar

President Zelinskyy is far, far wiser than Trump. He will always make a good plan for Ukraine.

You are wrong in your conjecture: President Zelinskyy will never fail Ukraine.

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Ruthy Wexler's avatar

True. Zelensky never will fail Ukraine.

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Terry's avatar

A toadstool is wiser than trump. However, trump is a bully that it seems everyone gives in to.

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Jackie C.'s avatar

I'm Canadian and, like the overwhelming majority of Canadians, we will NEVER give in to trump.

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Ruthy Wexler's avatar

We are with you and we LOVE you saying that. More than u know.

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Jackie C.'s avatar

Thanks for your words :) Keep standing up. Don't succumb. It's your country to protect,

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Peggy Fahy's avatar

Everyone EXCEPT Zelenskyy. He’s already proven that time and again.

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Jackie C.'s avatar

A true hero, putting his people first.

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Tamara C's avatar

Only Americans gave into Trump.

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Terry's avatar

I'm a US citizen. I voted for her. 💙💙💙💙

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Ruthy Wexler's avatar

That seems true, too.

It's a modern fairy tale we are all watching, breathless.

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Oaktown's avatar

I read the AP article at your link and understand why Zelenskyy signed it, given the grim circumstances he faces now with Putin's puppet Numpty. Looks like he's aware he needs US support and is likely banking on our Commander in Cheat's greed motivating him not to cave in to Putin, who I'm convinced will not stop this war unless the Russian people get rid of him or he dies.

The deal Zelenskyy signed is far better than the one Numpty tried to bully him into signing previously. The biggest concern I have is it doesn't give any explicit security guarantees against future Russian aggression, but all the following points are far better than the original agreement:

" ... the agreement ensures full ownership of the resources remains with Ukraine, and the state will determine what can be extracted and where.

"The agreement establishes a reconstruction investment fund, and both the U.S. and Ukraine will have an equal say in its management, according to Svyrydenko.

"The fund will be supported by the U.S. government through the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation agency, which Ukraine hopes will attract investment and technology from American and European countries.

"Ukraine is expected to contribute 50% of all future profits from government-owned natural resources into the fund. The United States will also contribute in the form of direct funds and equipment, including badly needed air defensesystems and other military aid."

"Contributions to the fund will be reinvested in projects related to mining, oil and gas as well as infrastructure."

No profits will be taken from the fund for the first 10 years, Svyrydenko said."

So if Cheeto is still in power and pulls his usual tricks of not keeping his end of the bargain, that would negate the whole deal ... and Diaper Donnie would probably be dead or incapacitated before 10 years has passed anyway.

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Terry's avatar

Or if we're lucky, a Democrat is elected president in 2028, Democrats have both house and senate, and this agreement is deemed null and void, with the Budapest Memorandum in effect once again.

Fuck trump, fuck putin, fuck maga.

3 months has felt like a lifetime.

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Oaktown's avatar

Totally agree.

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Ellen's avatar

This agreement has NOTHING to do with Russia and what they do or do not do in the future. THIS is purely a business deal between the US and Ukraine!!

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T Allen's avatar

Do you know what the agreement states? The reports I've heard about it say it's pretty good for Ukraine and the US will probably not be participating as it'll cost us a lot of $$ upfront. We'll need to share in building the infrastructure to mine.

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Lillian Holsworth's avatar

Take a look at UATV English in YouTube- directly from Ukranie . Has plenty of announcements from President Zelinskyy

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Bj5276's avatar

Thanks for the link. I read it and it states that’s it’s good for Ukraine. I pray that the U.S. stands behind it.

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Bj5276's avatar

I think it came when they were in Rome. I’m disappointed as well.

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