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https://theconversation.com/trump-wants-to-do-a-deal-for-ukraines-critical-minerals-will-zelensky-give-him-what-he-wants-or-will-putin-250064>
"The United States and Russia agreed to work on a plan to end the war in
Ukraine at high-level talks in Saudi Arabia this week. Ukrainian and European
representatives were pointedly not invited to take part.
US President Donald Trump seemingly entered into these negotiations prepared to
capitulate on two main points that Russian President Vladimir Putin has been
seeking. Russia is opposed to Ukraine joining NATO and wants to retain
Ukrainian territory captured since its invasion of Crimea in 2014.
Such a dramatic shift in Washington’s approach to Ukraine’s sovereignty and
security has undermined Western-Ukrainian unity on the acceptable parameters
around ending the war.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine won’t accept a deal
negotiated without them. Former US National Security Adviser John Bolton said
Trump “effectively surrendered” to Putin.
European leaders, too, are concerned after they were excluded from the Saudi
talks. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said:
This does not mean that peace can be dictated and that Ukraine must accept
what is presented to it.
Many believe Trump’s moves to splinter this trans-Atlantic front against Russia
send a signal that Washington is abandoning its commitment to European
security.
However, there’s another important factor at play in Trump’s actions: the
intensifying global competition over critical minerals. Trump wants to secure
access to Ukraine’s vast reserves of these minerals, even if it means breaking
with the US’ traditional allies in the European Union."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
