Zelenskyy says no to any US minerals deal that might risk Ukraine’s EU bid
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According to renowned scientists, Ukraine doesn’t actually have minable Rare Earths.
The contentious 28 February Oval Office meeting can’t be understood without a crucial piece of context: there are no deposits of rare-earth ore in Ukraine known to be minable in an economically viable way. And that would be true even if full-scale warfare were not raging in the country’s east, where a great deal of its mineral resources are concentrated.
Ukraine is believed to have four areas with substantial deposits of rare earth ores, according to Erik Jonsson, senior geologist with the Geological Survey of Sweden. “There are four slightly bigger deposits: Yastrubetske, Novopoltavske, Azovske, and Mazurivske. All but one of them seem to be now within or near the zone that the Russians control, as far as I can tell,” says Jonsson. “And when it comes to resources in those deposits, I mean, we have numbers; yes, that’s nice. But we have no real, detailed, outline of how those numbers were arrived at.” The numbers are believed to come from Soviet surveys dating as far back as the 1960s.
“The rare-earth deposits don’t look that relevant,” Jonsson concludes. “I mean, I wouldn’t go for them.” Two of the deposits are dominated by a mineral called britholite, he notes, which is not desirable because it has not been processed for rare earths, which means that almost nothing exists in the way of process chemistry and equipment.
“If you want critical minerals, Ukraine ain’t the place to look for them,” declares Jack Lifton, executive chairman of the Critical Minerals Institute. “It’s a fantasy. There’s no point to any of this. There’s some other agenda going on here. I can’t believe that anybody in Washington actually believes that it makes sense to get rare earths in Ukraine.”
[Emphasis mine.]
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According to renowned scientists, Ukraine doesn’t actually have minable Rare Earths.
The contentious 28 February Oval Office meeting can’t be understood without a crucial piece of context: there are no deposits of rare-earth ore in Ukraine known to be minable in an economically viable way. And that would be true even if full-scale warfare were not raging in the country’s east, where a great deal of its mineral resources are concentrated.
Ukraine is believed to have four areas with substantial deposits of rare earth ores, according to Erik Jonsson, senior geologist with the Geological Survey of Sweden. “There are four slightly bigger deposits: Yastrubetske, Novopoltavske, Azovske, and Mazurivske. All but one of them seem to be now within or near the zone that the Russians control, as far as I can tell,” says Jonsson. “And when it comes to resources in those deposits, I mean, we have numbers; yes, that’s nice. But we have no real, detailed, outline of how those numbers were arrived at.” The numbers are believed to come from Soviet surveys dating as far back as the 1960s.
“The rare-earth deposits don’t look that relevant,” Jonsson concludes. “I mean, I wouldn’t go for them.” Two of the deposits are dominated by a mineral called britholite, he notes, which is not desirable because it has not been processed for rare earths, which means that almost nothing exists in the way of process chemistry and equipment.
“If you want critical minerals, Ukraine ain’t the place to look for them,” declares Jack Lifton, executive chairman of the Critical Minerals Institute. “It’s a fantasy. There’s no point to any of this. There’s some other agenda going on here. I can’t believe that anybody in Washington actually believes that it makes sense to get rare earths in Ukraine.”
[Emphasis mine.]
I can’t believe that anybody in Washington actually believes that it makes sense to get rare earths in Ukraine
I mean, has he taken a look at the absolute buffoons in Washington lately? Trump's literal self-given purpose in life is to make a deal, even if he has no idea about the technical side.
He bankrupted a casino and a steak business, and numerous others because he understands nothing. This is no different.
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I can’t believe that anybody in Washington actually believes that it makes sense to get rare earths in Ukraine
I mean, has he taken a look at the absolute buffoons in Washington lately? Trump's literal self-given purpose in life is to make a deal, even if he has no idea about the technical side.
He bankrupted a casino and a steak business, and numerous others because he understands nothing. This is no different.
I don't know, maybe. I am just wondering what this "other agenda" actually is. Undermining Ukraine's EU accession? It's independence? I don't know, but it's good that Zelenskyy has rejected the deal.
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I don't know, maybe. I am just wondering what this "other agenda" actually is. Undermining Ukraine's EU accession? It's independence? I don't know, but it's good that Zelenskyy has rejected the deal.
Trump is chaotic and unpredictable. His actions are mainly decided by personal greed and petty whims and grievances. But there is one constant in his behaviour since at least 2016, and that is his allegiance to Putin. He has never once convincingly criticised him, and everything he has done which involved Russian interests has always been in favour of Russia.
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I don't know, maybe. I am just wondering what this "other agenda" actually is. Undermining Ukraine's EU accession? It's independence? I don't know, but it's good that Zelenskyy has rejected the deal.
I low-key want Zelensky to sign any deal to get the US to go all-in, and when it becomes time to pay, just say "ehh, I thought you were just keeping up your end of the Budapest accords. Well give you minerals next time you help us out though!"
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Have anyone figured out what game is being played though?
Schwarzer peter
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The main point: Ukraine has a preference / permission for joining the EU written into its current constitution. The EU has various rules about competition and markets, so...
The European Commission will make an assessment of the text, which could grant a preferential treatment to American companies, once there is a "concrete agreement with letters black on white," Paula Pinho, the Commission's chief spokesperson, said on Friday.
Now, if Trump's team can write a text that adheres to EU competition rules, then Zelensky might give it the green light. But can they? Are they even thinking about it currently?
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He probably has Ukraine's best psychologists and a team of specialists helping him
I don't think it works like that. Many top politicians crumble under much less stress, especially those trying to be on the right side of history.
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How this man hasn’t crumbled by the all the responsibility and pressure is beyond me.
He’s honestly one of the most savvy and intelligent statesmen I’ve ever seen. Maybe his understanding of humor lends to understanding how power dynamics work. He is extremely good at figuring out a message quickly that pivots him into a position where he is able to defend himself and his country while calling to and tying himself to greater powers.
He does this in a way where allies would lose face or have to take an aggressive stance. And at this point taking an aggressive stance against Zelenskyy is making yourself a soft ally of Russia.
He runs a good gambit. I wish other world leaders were half as caring or savvy.
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Have anyone figured out what game is being played though?
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According to renowned scientists, Ukraine doesn’t actually have minable Rare Earths.
The contentious 28 February Oval Office meeting can’t be understood without a crucial piece of context: there are no deposits of rare-earth ore in Ukraine known to be minable in an economically viable way. And that would be true even if full-scale warfare were not raging in the country’s east, where a great deal of its mineral resources are concentrated.
Ukraine is believed to have four areas with substantial deposits of rare earth ores, according to Erik Jonsson, senior geologist with the Geological Survey of Sweden. “There are four slightly bigger deposits: Yastrubetske, Novopoltavske, Azovske, and Mazurivske. All but one of them seem to be now within or near the zone that the Russians control, as far as I can tell,” says Jonsson. “And when it comes to resources in those deposits, I mean, we have numbers; yes, that’s nice. But we have no real, detailed, outline of how those numbers were arrived at.” The numbers are believed to come from Soviet surveys dating as far back as the 1960s.
“The rare-earth deposits don’t look that relevant,” Jonsson concludes. “I mean, I wouldn’t go for them.” Two of the deposits are dominated by a mineral called britholite, he notes, which is not desirable because it has not been processed for rare earths, which means that almost nothing exists in the way of process chemistry and equipment.
“If you want critical minerals, Ukraine ain’t the place to look for them,” declares Jack Lifton, executive chairman of the Critical Minerals Institute. “It’s a fantasy. There’s no point to any of this. There’s some other agenda going on here. I can’t believe that anybody in Washington actually believes that it makes sense to get rare earths in Ukraine.”
[Emphasis mine.]
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It's pretty clear that Trump couldn't do shit about the war, even after gorging on Putin's balls. So good on them for not signing this extorsion deal.
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Have anyone figured out what game is being played though?
Donald is only capable of Go Fish or 52 Pickup.
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Don’t give into the US’ bullying. Ukraine will join NATO and Putin and Trump will one day be rotting in the ground. All decent people are working towards and looking forward to that day.
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He probably has Ukraine's best psychologists and a team of specialists helping him
… or he’s just a tough dude with the right motivations and his head on straight? Not everyone needs a psychologist lol
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He’s honestly one of the most savvy and intelligent statesmen I’ve ever seen. Maybe his understanding of humor lends to understanding how power dynamics work. He is extremely good at figuring out a message quickly that pivots him into a position where he is able to defend himself and his country while calling to and tying himself to greater powers.
He does this in a way where allies would lose face or have to take an aggressive stance. And at this point taking an aggressive stance against Zelenskyy is making yourself a soft ally of Russia.
He runs a good gambit. I wish other world leaders were half as caring or savvy.
He is without a doubt one of the Great Man that shape history.
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Jesus fuck.
EU + GB, can you please just buy enough time for the US to pull its head out its arse? We cannot let the blyats win.
Lol, I wish I could still live on a reality where this is an option...
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It's pretty clear that Trump couldn't do shit about the war, even after gorging on Putin's balls. So good on them for not signing this extorsion deal.
Oh he could, but he won't.
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Jesus fuck.
EU + GB, can you please just buy enough time for the US to pull its head out its arse? We cannot let the blyats win.
Sure. How much time do you need?
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Sure. How much time do you need?
4 fucking years.
