Ukraine says it’s poised to sign a key mineral resources deal with the US on Wednesday
US and Ukraine sign deal giving US access to country's valuable mineral wealth
From an American, don't sign anything. Seriously. Just string them along and negotiate with Canada and Europe for better support packages. You deserve better
Don't do it. Seriously. They'll take the minerals and after a few years when Russia attacks again they'll go "peace out bro, it was good while it lasted, not really our problem since we have this big and beautiful ocean separating us, thoughts and prayers" and abandon the place.
Better do it through Europe (harder but better in the long run) and collectively secure a more lasting and strong peace by way of actual deterrence and sharing of common interests. Europe won't ever say "we don't need to help you since we don't need to".
Ukraine's security is Europe's security, and it understands that.
So if there's no security guarantees here, why are they signing this? I understand that this would let American capital flow into these ventures in Ukraine, but I doubt only American firms want to mine those resources. I'd imagine they can get a better deal if they shop around. Smells like a grift by some in Ukraine's top brass.
Because Ukraine doesn't have a choice: the USA wants resources, the EU isn't independent from the USA + extremely slow and indecisive. If Ukraine won't pay this tribute to Trump, Ukraine will be left completely alone. And die.
The argument they're also making is that by allowing US citizens in to extract the resources there will be an implicit safety guarantee because then Putin wouldn't dare attack locations US citizens might be located out of fear of the US actively participating in the war. Whether that claim holds water or not that's at least the rational they're pushing.
Aha, so what they're getting is some form of continued weapons delivery. Do you know if they're getting all the weapons they need? Rory Stewart says US would be stopping the deliveries of some of the important missile systems. I haven't checked that independently.
"Just the tip, I promise"
Just don't.