In that case, looks like Zelenskyy had the cards.

Ukraine doesn't even have significant rare earth deposits. Nothing worth mining.

However, those aren't the only thing in the deal. Bunch of other minerals are in there, and oil and natural gas.

I’m aware, but they’re also unfortunately rare in the US, and we need batteries if we don’t maintain a good trade relationship with China.

Doesn't really matter. Trump got a deal. In Donnie's diseased mind, it doesn't matter what it says, only that it exists.

If peace is reached and maintained. If Russia doesn't get all of Ukraine, how long is it going to be until they invade again? No one is going to want to invest in building a mine with that hanging over it.

That depends on the deal actually being followed.

Trump has zero intention of following through on any deal he makes, if he finds another option that is more beneficial to himself and himself alone, he will reneg on the deal in a microsecond.

There’s no hurricanes if there’s no NOAA. There’s no bird flu if there’s no CDC.

I agree that economic sanctions are nearly maxed out, but as you mention, they could provide more military aid. Instead, that was already delayed last year by Republicans, and recently even intelligence support was suspended, as Russia increased the bombing of civilians. Adding to this, most public quotes were about blaming Ukraine and trying to appease Putin, which significantly influenced how “brave” Russia acted.

The US is free to do with their resources as they please, but if they actually wanted to stop this war, they had the options to move towards to that. Instead the war went on for months without any positive results. The mineral deal can be a good step, but it seems to be the last one, so not sure it will be enough alone.

No peace talks means the US is uninterested in peace. Back to supporting war I suppose.

The deal he signed has little in common with the initial mineral deal, and this one is actually good for Ukraine.

This is an ultimate test :)

you know how like...in China or NK they have those "great leader" photos in every house?

He's going to force his dick pics on every house.

See my other comment.

Russia can’t even conquer Ukraine after 3 years. They are only a bully to the little guys.

Europe could easily demolish Russia and their old and tired military. I’m not saying that europe should invade Russia. Ofc not. But this Putin bluff is long gone. And ofc it’s Russia that can end this anytime they want but until they are forced to they won’t. Which bully do you know that returned the lunch money that they stole out of what? Compassion? Just because it’s wrong?

And you are talking about WW3 but the EU is planning to triple their defence budget in preparation for war, so you tell me who wants WW3

The EU needs to put actual restrictions on Russia, Russian oligarchs and Russian allies/goods, not just a not even fully opaque curtain that is easily circumvented like it is atm (even by EU members).

They also need to properly support Ukraine’s military so that they can repel Russian troops back to Ukraine’s borders instead of just giving them enough ammo and guns that will allow them to continue this war of attrition. Maybe they could use all the resources that Germany sends to Israel for example.

And then they need to do what was said above. Actually come to the table with Russia and negotiate the end of the war.

But atm that isn’t possible because Russia is not being forced to. They made their ground and ofc aren’t keen on giving it back and Ukraine is also not willing to give part of the country to Russia (as they shouldn’t). And the EU politicians are happy to be profiting of this war and shift their economies to war economies in order to fill their pockets further.

We haven’t done shit for climate change and it’s not even being discussed anymore. And it will only get worse.