Russia to Trump: Back off Ukraine’s rare earths

[Canuck Conservative]

By Elena Giordano
Politico (Feb. 4, 2025)
https://www.politico.eu/article/kremlin-russia-slams-us-donald-trump-ukraine-exchange-rare-earth-resources/

A senior Russian official slammed United States President Donald Trump's proposal that he could militarily aid Ukraine in exchange for access to its valuable mineral rights.

"If we call things as they are, this is a proposal to buy help — in other words, not to give it unconditionally, or for some other reasons, but specifically to provide it on a commercial basis," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters Tuesday.

"It would be better of course for the assistance to not be provided at all, as that would contribute to the end of this conflict," he added, about a war that was instigated by Russia.

Trump announced Monday that he was “looking to do a deal with Ukraine” in which the U.S. would provide military aid for the war against Russian President Vladimir Putin in exchange for Ukraine’s "rare earths."

"We’re investing hundreds of billions of dollars. They have great rare earths, and I want security of the rare earths," he said in Washington, adding that Ukraine is "willing to do it."

Ukraine has strategic reserves of titanium, lithium, graphite and uranium, which is crucial for its future economic stability and potentially part of the calculus in balancing immediate aid with long-term sovereignty over its resources.

Ukraine has not yet commented on Trump's proposal, but sharing resources with allies is part of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s "victory plan" for the war against Russia....

[Canuck Conservative]

L'il Putin and his clown-car military actually think they can lecture and order-around Pres. Trump.

Putin is about to find out just how weak he really is. This will not end well for Russia.

[DCPatriot]

L'il Putin and his clown-car military actually think they can lecture and order-around Pres. Trump.

Putin is about to find out just how weak he really is. This will not end well for Russia.

Uh...this isn't a 1950's thirty minute TV episode where the bad guys always get spanked.

[catfish1957]

The deal is, is that

(1) DJT wants to flood the petro market and get crude down to about $40/bbl.  And Pootie knows this. 
(2) The Rouble just reached an all time low...  98 Roubles = One US dollar. This can not be sustained
(3) Putin is almost out of leverage, and when oil does reach $40/bbl, he will have forces deployed that he likely will not be able to bring back 

In tandem, this  seals the collapse of the likes of Russia, Iran, and Venezuela, and the Chicoms and their dreams of BRICS, will be more of a pipe dream. 

[Canuck Conservative]

The problem for Russia is, it's running out of money.

After Putin stupidly shut off gas to Europe (Sept. 22) - thereby giving up Russia's market share - Russia has had a huge hole in their budget revenues. They've been covering it by drawing down the National Wealth Fund - like a kid on a spending spree with his parents' inheritance - but that can probably only go on for another year.

Russia can bluster all they want, but Trump is a businessman and can read a balance sheet. He knows how weak Russia's hand really is.

And you almost wonder ... is he deliberately dragging out the Peace Deal, to let Russia bleed some more.

Endgame time.