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Bessent: US–Ukraine Minerals Deal Will Transform War-Torn Nation, Protect US Taxpayers

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Bessent emphasised that the plan wouldn’t burden Ukraine with debt or switch Ukrainian property to U.S. possession.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent mentioned Saturday that President Donald Trump’s proposed financial partnership with Ukraine would profit each international locations by securing U.S. taxpayer pursuits whereas fueling Ukraine’s postwar restoration, reworking the embattled nation into one that’s wealthy and secure.

In a Feb. 22 op-ed for the Monetary Occasions, Bessent outlined the deal, by which the Ukrainian authorities would allocate its income from pure sources, infrastructure, and different property to a fund devoted to long-term reconstruction and growth, with the US having financial and governance rights in these future investments.

“This construction and relationship carry the excessive requirements of transparency, accountability, company governance and authorized frameworks mandatory to draw the sturdy personal funding for postwar progress in Ukraine,” he wrote. “The U.S.’s involvement would depart no room for corruption and insider offers.”

Bessent emphasised that the plan wouldn’t burden Ukraine with debt or switch Ukrainian property to U.S. possession, distinguishing it from financial methods utilized by different world actors.

“President Trump’s modern method represents a brand new mannequin for productive worldwide partnership. Let’s even be clear as to what this isn’t. The U.S. wouldn’t be taking possession of bodily property in Ukraine. Nor would it not be saddling Ukraine with extra debt,” Bessent wrote, including that the deal doesn’t contain any “financial strain” on Kyiv that will undermine its sovereignty.

Whereas Bessent didn’t single out any particular international locations, China is thought for its “debt lure” diplomacy, which entails saddling international locations with debt and once they can’t repay, and taking possession of their sources or infrastructure.

“Such a financial strain, whereas deployed by different world actors, would advance neither American nor Ukrainian pursuits,” Bessent wrote. “As a way to create extra worth over the long run, the U.S. have to be invested alongside the folks of Ukraine, in order that each side are incentivized to achieve as a lot as attainable.”

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Bessent mentioned proceeds from Ukraine’s pure sources could be reinvested into key sectors that will drive financial growth, whereas guaranteeing international locations that didn’t assist Ukraine’s protection wouldn’t revenue from its reconstruction. He pointed to Poland’s post-1992 financial transformation as a mannequin for Ukraine’s potential progress, citing structural reforms, infrastructure funding, and international funding as key elements in tripling Poland’s economic system after its folks toppled communism and embraced free markets.

“President Trump’s proposed partnership aligns the curiosity of the American folks with these of the folks of Ukraine,” Bessent continued. “The president acknowledges that nationwide safety is constructed alongside financial safety, and the extra profitable and safe postwar Ukraine is, the extra that each the Ukrainian folks and the folks of the U.S. will profit.”

Bessent mentioned the partnership would lay the foundations for a sturdy peace, and reinforce Ukraine’s sovereignty and success.

Ukraine has not responded to the newest proposal.

Parliamentary Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk advised native media {that a} government-level group would start engaged on the settlement Monday. Nonetheless, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy beforehand rejected an earlier model of the proposal as a result of it didn’t present sufficient safety ensures, a key Kyiv demand because it seeks long-term stability free from the specter of one other Russian invasion.
Zelenskyy beforehand indicated a willingness to succeed in a mineral settlement with Washington in alternate for U.S. navy assist. His “victory plan” explicitly consists of a suggestion to strategic companions for “joint safety of the nation’s vital sources” in addition to their extraction and use. Ukraine possesses vital deposits of strategic minerals, together with uranium, lithium, cobalt, and uncommon earth parts, that are vital for batteries, expertise, and aerospace functions.
Trump on Saturday reiterated his dedication to dealer a peace settlement between Russia and Ukraine. Talking at this yr’s Conservative Political Motion Convention (CPAC), held in suburban Maryland, Trump mentioned he believes the conflict in Ukraine will quickly come to an finish.

“I’ve spoken to President Putin, and I feel that factor goes to finish. It’s received to finish,” he mentioned. “It’s a horrible, horrible factor to observe. I’m coping with President Zelensky. I’m coping with President Putin.

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“I’m going to attempt to get the conflict settled, and I’m going to attempt to get all that demise ended,” Trump mentioned.

On Friday, Trump mentioned that the deal was “fairly shut” to being finalized, whereas White Home press secretary Karoline Leavitt mentioned Saturday that the president is “going to be working across the clock all weekend to get a deal and finish this battle in Ukraine.”

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