The European Union offered its own agreement on “critical materials” to Ukraine on Monday, just as U.S. President Donald Trump claimed Washington was close to inking a deal with Kyiv for the rights to its vast natural resources.
Europe’s Commissioner for Industrial Strategy Stéphane Séjourné said he’d pitched the rival proposal to Ukrainian officials he met in Kyiv during a visit by the European Commission to mark the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion.
“Twenty-one of the 30 critical materials Europe needs can be provided by Ukraine in a win-win partnership,” Séjourné said, according to AFP.
And he noted pointedly: “The added value Europe offers is that we will never demand a deal that’s not mutually beneficial.”
Trump has made increasingly aggressive overtures toward Ukraine for the rights to its mineral riches, demanding as much as $500 billion in compensation for Washington’s support for Kyiv in fending off Moscow’s invasion.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has so far refused to sign two draft agreements proposed by the Trump’s administration, saying the terms — which the New York Times reported included Kyiv giving up minerals, oil and gas revenues, plus earnings from ports and other infrastructure to the tune of $500 billion — were too harsh.
Posted by John3262005
3 Comments
Watch EU get rare earths from Ukraine and then not set up processing plants….
Good.
The EU would be foolish to let Trump strongarm Ukraine into the extortionate “deal” he is proposing.
So what’s the win for Ukraine? Security assistance or GTFO.
Europe still doesn’t get that Trump’s extortion is only relevant because they allow the US to be relevant.