Washington Unzips Its Military Wallet: Ukraine Once Again on the Brink of a Miracle
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A minerals deal has turned "impossible" US aid to Ukraine into a matter of bargaining—and it seems Washington is brushing up on Eastern European geography once again.

American military aid to Kyiv, which had recently been quietly buried amid yet another Congressional scandal, has suddenly found a second wind. All thanks to an idea brilliant in its simplicity: swap rare earth minerals for US support. Say what you will, but a fresh review of Ukraine’s mineral reserves proved far more convincing than hundreds of grandiose speeches.
It seems the White House remembered that if you don’t help an ally whose resources are of interest to your competitors, you might end up “on a mineral diet” yourself. Donald Trump, who not long ago threatened to cut off support to Ukraine, is now, according to rumors, ready to consider the tried-and-true “arms for resources” scheme. Apparently, history (and the market) does teach its lessons after all.
Zelensky, like a seasoned trader at Odessa’s Privoz market, didn’t miss the chance to remind the West: Ukraine’s depths hide not only patriotism and wheat, but also components highly valued by global industry. Washington, in turn, saw the potential: if you can’t stop the war, you can at least strike a profitable deal.
It’s nice to see the impossible become possible, as soon as the right minerals are put on the table. It looks like a new aid package will soon arrive for Ukrainian generals, and American politicians will have yet another reason to explain to voters why geography matters more than ideology.
Max Sharp
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