Summary
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says he remains “ready to sign” a US-Ukraine minerals deal despite leaving the White House without an agreement following a contentious meeting with Trump.
Speaking in London after a European leaders’ summit, Zelensky emphasized that their fractious meeting only benefited Putin.
Refusing to discuss territorial concessions, he stated the “best security guarantees are a strong Ukrainian army.”
Responding to calls from Senator Graham that he resign, Zelensky quipped he is “exchangeable for NATO” membership, saying this would mean he had “fulfilled my mission.”
Does he still think the US will honour any agreement he makes with them that will harm Russia? I get that he’s doing the best he can for his country, but I don’t see there’s anything left to salvage here. Trump is working for Russia completely.
I think what is happening is that Ukraine believes that signing the deal will result in a range of outcomes from neutral to positive, depending how and when the US renegs on their side of it. But without the deal the outcomes range from neutral to very negative, so making the deal is the clear right move even if you believe it won’t do anything.
I think he’s mostly banking on what comes after Trump assuming our democracy survives. That and if there were Americans on the ground in the country it may be an effective deterrent against Russian aggression just to have American bodies there that could get exploded and bring the USA into a shooting war on Ukraine’s side.
That’s my take on it anyways. Plus it could potentially be beneficial to both countries if the USA were to actually play ball and not be dickheads. Ukraine probably, idk I’m not an economist/read up that much, does not have all the equipment and men and experience to exploit all their mineral wealth. Bringing in American contractors to help isn’t the worst idea, it just needs to be done right for it to make sense.
You can’t say this publicly. Rules of diplomacy and there are other allies that we need to work with.
Everyone in Ukraine itself believes exactly that. I am no mind reader, but I am almost certain this would include Zelenskyy as well.