Zelensky proposed rare-earths agreement with US during Biden's term, Blinken says
Former US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has expressed that while there is nothing intrinsically wrong with the US benefiting from Ukrainian rare-earth minerals, he believes that the approach advocated by former President Donald Trump is...
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Former US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has expressed that while there is nothing intrinsically wrong with the US benefiting from Ukrainian rare-earth minerals, he believes that the approach advocated by former President Donald Trump is misguided.
In a Thursday interview with CNBC, Blinken acknowledged that an invitation from Kiev regarding minerals was presented during his tenure as secretary of state under President Joe Biden.
The current US administration is in the process of finalizing a deal with Ukraine, which Trump claims will enable American taxpayers to recoup funds used in support of Kiev’s war efforts against Russia. However, this agreement does not provide any security guarantees for Ukraine.
Blinken indicated that the Biden administration had a different strategy concerning the rare-earths proposal put forth by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. He noted, “Part of the victory package that [Zelensky] put on the table in the last six months of our administration included us working with them on rare earths, on critical minerals,” he told journalist Andrew Ross Sorkin.
Blinken elaborated that the Biden administration's objective was to encourage investments in Ukraine that would be mutually beneficial for both countries. In contrast, he criticized Trump’s proposal, labeling it as “basically a protection racket without the protection.”
The document submitted by Washington in March reportedly allows American businesses extensive access to the Ukrainian economy but lacks security assurances. The White House argues that US interests would act as a de facto form of protection.
Zelensky has been advocating for Western security guarantees as a prerequisite for signing a peace treaty with Moscow. Among his suggestions were immediate NATO membership, the potential acquisition of nuclear weapons by Ukraine, and the stationing of long-range Western missiles in the country aimed at Russia.
Negotiations regarding a minerals deal commenced in the early weeks of Trump's second presidency, with at least two draft proposals ultimately being abandoned. An agreement seemed close to completion during Zelensky's February visit to Washington, but the signing was canceled after he publicly criticized Trump's approach to Russia, resulting in the Ukrainian delegation being asked to leave the White House.
Ramin Sohrabi for TROIB News
In a Thursday interview with CNBC, Blinken acknowledged that an invitation from Kiev regarding minerals was presented during his tenure as secretary of state under President Joe Biden.
The current US administration is in the process of finalizing a deal with Ukraine, which Trump claims will enable American taxpayers to recoup funds used in support of Kiev’s war efforts against Russia. However, this agreement does not provide any security guarantees for Ukraine.
Blinken indicated that the Biden administration had a different strategy concerning the rare-earths proposal put forth by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. He noted, “Part of the victory package that [Zelensky] put on the table in the last six months of our administration included us working with them on rare earths, on critical minerals,” he told journalist Andrew Ross Sorkin.
Blinken elaborated that the Biden administration's objective was to encourage investments in Ukraine that would be mutually beneficial for both countries. In contrast, he criticized Trump’s proposal, labeling it as “basically a protection racket without the protection.”
The document submitted by Washington in March reportedly allows American businesses extensive access to the Ukrainian economy but lacks security assurances. The White House argues that US interests would act as a de facto form of protection.
Zelensky has been advocating for Western security guarantees as a prerequisite for signing a peace treaty with Moscow. Among his suggestions were immediate NATO membership, the potential acquisition of nuclear weapons by Ukraine, and the stationing of long-range Western missiles in the country aimed at Russia.
Negotiations regarding a minerals deal commenced in the early weeks of Trump's second presidency, with at least two draft proposals ultimately being abandoned. An agreement seemed close to completion during Zelensky's February visit to Washington, but the signing was canceled after he publicly criticized Trump's approach to Russia, resulting in the Ukrainian delegation being asked to leave the White House.
Ramin Sohrabi for TROIB News
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