Late Night Live - Separate stories podcast What's behind the Ukraine-US minerals deal?
May 20, 2025
Antonia Juhasz, a writer for Rolling Stone Magazine and investigative journalist, dives into the complex U.S.-Ukraine minerals deal amidst ongoing conflict. She unpacks the geopolitical implications and Ukraine's strategy to pivot away from fossil fuels. Antonia highlights the deal's roots in military support and critiques its potential impact on Ukraine's sovereignty. The conversation probes the motivations behind the agreement and questions whether it truly serves Ukraine's best interests, offering a nuanced look at international negotiations.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Original Intent vs Trump Shift
- The minerals deal was originally Zelensky's idea to incentivize US investment and maintain military support from the Republican Congress.
- The agreement morphed under Trump into a natural resource grab linked to US military and political leverage over Ukraine.
US Gains Half Control Over Resources
- The agreement covers all Ukraine's natural resources, not just rare earth minerals.
- It gives the US 50% control over future earnings and decisions on Ukraine's natural resources, limiting Ukraine's autonomy.
Reconstruction Fund Shared with US
- Ukraine loses direct control over natural resource earnings, which go into a co-managed reconstruction fund with the US.
- This diverges from usual grants and loans for reconstruction where funds go directly to the Ukrainian government.