In yet another harsh and incendiary remark against the Ukrainian leadership, Dmitry Medvedev continued the Kremlin’s war narrative.
The former President of Russia and current Vice Chairman of the Security Council commented in a post that the U.S. has presented “an excellent draft agreement on commodities to the Kyiv regime.” However, he added that whether it is accepted or rejected, it will put Volodymyr Zelensky and his team in an impossible situation.
“If he approves it, the junkie and his gang will be hanged in Maidan, like Mussolini,” he wrote, referring to the fate of the Italian dictator. “If he rejects it, then the United States will restore the Bandera regime. Checkmate.”
Zelensky’s Position and the U.S. Proposal
It is worth recalling that yesterday, when addressing the minerals agreement, Volodymyr Zelensky stated that his country already has “many such agreements” and added that the United States is expected to send a final draft for review. However, he made pointed remarks against the American side, emphasizing that Washington “constantly changes the terms.”
Bloomberg: What the U.S. Minerals Deal Proposes
According to a draft agreement cited by Bloomberg, Washington is demanding the “right of first offer” for investments in all infrastructure and natural resource projects.
More specifically, the U.S. is pushing for control over all significant future investments in Ukraine’s infrastructure and minerals, securing a veto over any potential role of Kyiv’s other allies. This, in turn, undermines Ukraine’s efforts to join the European Union.
If accepted, the “partnership agreement” would grant the U.S. enormous power over investment decisions in Ukraine, covering projects related to roads, railways, ports, mining, oil, and natural gas, as well as the extraction of critical minerals. It would represent an unprecedented expansion of U.S. economic influence over Europe’s largest country by land area after Russia—precisely at a time when Ukraine is trying to align itself with the EU.
At the same time, the agreement would grant the U.S. the first claim over profits transferred to a special reconstruction investment fund controlled by Washington. Importantly, the document states that the U.S. considers the material and financial benefits it has provided to Ukraine since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022 as its contribution to this fund.
The U.S. handed over the revised agreement to officials in Kyiv last weekend, according to Bloomberg. Negotiations are ongoing, and the final draft may include revisions based on Ukrainian input.
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