DW P.

Producer and Film Director @ Ukraine Story | Documentary Filmmaker | Attorney | Journalist | C

George Mason University – Antonin Scalia Law School 

Ukraine Story

Mar 30, 2025

I am grateful for a commentator on my post who responded to my article “Why Ukraine Must Reject the Deal” by accurately stating the Trump Administration argument for the mineral deal. I view this position as uninformed and ethically bankrupt, but I want to explain why. I will quote him and then give my response:

He writes: “You provide one assessment of the deal. Here is another. Creates tangible important U.S. assets in Ukraine that support U.S. and western national security. In essence, we now have real skin in the game.”

Me: False- The deal offers not a single “tangible” security guarantee. Not one. In fact it is an overt threat to Ukrainian security. The United States is no longer an ally to Ukraine. Under the rhetoric and behavior of the present Administration which is calling for regime change in Kyiv and supporting Russia, there is a greater likelihood that economic control over Ukraine will lead to US interventionism and destabilizing of the nation. As to “skin” in the game – there has always been skin in the game. America had skin in the game when it signed Budapest. America had skin in the game as an ally to Europe. Owning Ukraine economically does not give “skin in the game” – it turns Ukraine into a vassal state.

He writes: “Protects Ukraine from itself in terms of corruption through management of funding with proper oversight. Truely helps Ukraine rebuild and prosper. Remember, Ukraine by some accounts was one of the most corrupt countries in Europe in 2021 before the start of this war.”

Me: This position is uninfomed.

First – I challenge you to prove that Ukraine was “one of the most corrupt countries…” from facts, not Tucker Carlson’s endless barrage of private revelation-driven slander. Concerning corruption – credible corruption indexes rate Ukraine less corrupt than Brazil, Turkey, Egypt, and Mexico, all of whom are nations capable of managing their own economy.

Second, Russia ranks far, far worse than Ukraine on corruption indexes. Russia is considered the single most corrupt major power in the world. Are you willing to apply the same standard to the war criminals in Russia?

Third, there is a strong argument that the United States in 2021 leadership was far more corrupt than Ukraine. In fact, the corruption of DC was the defining platform of the Trump presidency.

Fourth, Ukraine corruption is Russian in origin. It is why there was a Revolution of Dignity in 2014. Ukraine has worked to throw off Russian influence corruption and has done a good job under Zelensky.

Finally – The argument that Ukraine is a corrupt child incapable of taking care of itself is a shameful and reprehensible position birthed from Neo-Soviet Republicans who have abandoned the ethics of faith, the legacy of Reagan, and merely repeat disinformation they have picked up. It is the plantation owners mentality of Putin.

…………..

Comment from :

Jennifer Harder

You have a very clear and truthful mind, and you’ve responded admirably. Trump is a liar and cannot be trusted.

Stan Dokmanus

Ukraine has the sole right to determine how it will use its rare earth minerals.

It should get a fair price fit is assets. NATO and Europe should back Ukraine.

President Zelenskyy should be offered a way to exclude the U.S.

Negotiations about Ukraine should exclude the U.S. for obvious reasons.

The U.K, France, Canada, NATO and border European countries are the legitimate players.

Jane Rita Serwan

Damn, you shredded that argument. Russian propaganda from American Fox Commentators does not equal truth.

OLAM Research

Many do not want to hear the truth about Ukraine’s responsibilities. But the journey from hyper militarization to democracy and freedom steeped in Western values is long and tasking. The earlier Ukraine starts, the better.

Kyrylo Holovko

OLAM Research What are you even talking about here? Ukraine literally disarmed itself from being one of the most heavily armed countries in the world to a regular European nation. Russia attacked Ukraine in 2014, and that is the reason for militarization. What do your comments about democracy have to do with this, or a country you clearly know nothing about? Or are you trying to claim that we have a dictatorship based on your *very valuable* opinion?

Peter Paul

The US Administration is extremely corrupt on a scale unimaginable and extremely dangerous to itself and the entire world.

Florentino Blanc

Agree with the author 💯 Corruption problems exist in Ukraine, yes. However, not only would this deal not help, but the US right now is vastly more corrupt than Ukraine, so…

Sam Satie Salman

Great insights. Agree. Solving corruption is of no concern to trump. Like with Greenland and Canada, he wants to steal the ressources and will happily offer Ukraine to Russia.

President Zelensky is admirable trying to handle a complex situation. It’s our fault all. We should have helped Ukraine much earlier, full assistance. When Ukraine was gaining back its territory, Russia’s army should have been neutralised.

Boyd Willis

The whole thing is just a Putin/Trump ruse. More than 90% of those rare earths are in Russian occupied territory. The Trump administration ‘ad nauseum’ has made it abundantly clear that they intend to gift those occupied territories to Russia. The whole “deal” is nothing more than a ruse to enable Trump to wave his arms and say “Ukraine doesn’t want a deal and doesn’t want peace” so he can justify supporting Putin. Don’t be sucked in by the pro-Kremlin games.

Peter McPhee

It’s extortion with menaces, plain and simple. Most citizens of the USA will be appalled at what has become of their Nation.

Peter Paul

Peter McPhee The vast majority of Americans are appalled and angry, but many are not sure what to do about it, because it is so unfamiliar to them. The Administration is also using intimidation, threat, and retribution tactics to create fear. However there are so many of us that will never surrender!!!! 🇺🇸🇺🇦🇨🇦🇬🇱

Valerii Terentev

A reason why Trump wants to impose that deal knowing it’s unacceptable to any sovereign nation is to show Ukraine “unable to negotiate”, and you can already see Moscow-Musk propoganda outlets pushing such narratives again, despite Ukraine agreeing with the 30-day ceasefire and Moscow rejecting all aspects of it and intensifying their bombing of Ukraine.

Trump is corruption, lawlessness, immorality and aggressive ignorance. Trump wants to make deal with Putin the most corrupt regime in Europe.

Anita Kennedy

An excellent clear and concise response DW P.. 🇬🇧🇺🇦

Ukraine has been working hard to oust any corruption because they want to join the EU.

“There’s no honour among thieves’ Trump and Putin belong together.

Zelenskyy, do not sign any deals with Putin and Trump,

Insist that Europeans speak with you, and for you. Use us Europeans, not Trump!

Trump wants Greenland. JD Vance using his bully boy tactics to intimidate them 😡

Trump will end up like Putin, A lonely pariah…

Michal Mozola

How America Is Thanking Ukraine

Dear Americans,

Below please find a kind reminder.

The United States of America have failed to honour their commitment, international agreements and failed the free world dismally.

American explicit security assurances have come to mean zip.

Ukraine has been the only non-NATO nation supporting every NATO mission. In Afganistan and in Iraq, Ukrainian troops were supporting young democracies. Also, in Kosovo, Ukrainians have helped to keep the peace.

In exchange, Donald J. Trump has shamed the United States of America for generations to come – siding with the Russian war criminal, pausing all military aid for Ukraine, and and trying to extort a hefty ransom in rare-earth elements and what not.

So the story goes so far. To victory, against all odds!

Glory to Ukraine! 🇺🇦

For EPIC courage and determination.

Слава Україні – Разом до перемоги! 🇺🇦

David DeBatto

Because I am not as polite and diplomatic as you, I have a different term for this misinformed and brainwashed commenter. But after writing my term for this commenter, LinkedIn immediately informed me that it would be deleted and I would be reported. They explained that their main responsibility as a 100% Kremlin supporting media platform is to protect the reputations and promote the agendas of both Putin and Trump, and to find and censor all negative comments regarding those two lovely individuals and to harshly punish the writers of any negative comments. Oh well…