Yuri Kobzar00:10, 24.02.25

The new US government, formed from adherents of the “Make America Great Again” movement, is behaving extremely aggressively.

Ukraine is in tough negotiations with the US to provide the Americans with access to Ukrainian resources in exchange for security guarantees and further assistance. The Americans are behaving extremely aggressively and even “boorishly”, The Economist writes , citing Ukrainian officials who wished to remain anonymous.

Thus, one of the publication’s interlocutors stated that these are “not negotiations, but extortion.” At the same time, Ukrainian officials say that their meetings with Trump’s team are so unusual that they watch documentaries to learn about his negotiating style. The only thing that is already clear is the high level of aggression inherent in Trumpists.

Since February 12, three versions of the deal have been discussed: “bad,” “better,” and “catastrophic,” each put forward by a different White House official. The idea of ​​offering the U.S. access to Ukraine’s minerals in exchange for future military aid and an invitation to NATO was originally conceived by Kyiv in September. But Trump has turned the idea on its head, viewing Ukrainian resources as compensation for aid that America has already provided.

Under the latest, “catastrophic” version of the deal, Ukrainian officials say, Kyiv would have donated 50 percent of future government revenues from natural resources and infrastructure such as ports to a new investment fund owned by the U.S. government. Contributions would continue until the fund reached $500 billion, which is what Trump says America has spent on aid to Ukraine since the war began, which is not true.

“If we sign this in its current form, tomorrow we will be thrown out of office and an angry mob will lynch us,” one of the publication’s sources admitted to journalists.

The first, “bad” version of the agreement was brought to Kyiv on February 12 by newly appointed US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. He gave Zelensky an hour to sign the document, but the president asked for more time. The “better” version of the agreement was brought to the Munich Conference two days later by US Vice President J.D. Vance and Trump’s special representative for Ukraine Keith Kellogg. Both of these proposals contained no promises to help Ukraine in its defense, except for the clause on protecting the resources actually extracted.

Ukraine then presented a counter-proposal. But on February 20, the Americans stunned the Ukrainians with a third, “catastrophic” version of the agreement. This time, the process was led by Howard Lutnick, the newly appointed US Secretary of Commerce.

“Forget all previous agreements, Ukraine was told, and get used to the idea of ​​handing over resources with little return. Agree or refuse – and lose the war,” writes The Economist.

One theory is that Lutnyk’s version of the deal was punishment for Kyiv’s failure to adhere to the first two versions of the agreement. The Ukrainians’ refusal angered the American president.

A senior Ukrainian official told the publication’s author that the talks were “boorish” but “not the worst that could happen.” “Everything else that happens later will be worse,” he said, while The Economist added that the talks were taking place amid speculation about a possible blocking of Starlink communications for Ukraine and a complete halt to American aid.

(c)UNIAN 2025