The Daily Populous Monday February 24th, 2025 evening edition
Authored by kyivindependent.com and submitted by DumbledoresAtheist

This audio is created with AI assistance

President Volodymyr Zelensky pushed back at the U.S.’ demand for a $500 billion fund to be financed with Ukrainian natural resource revenue, saying that the U.S.’s aid grants are not debts, during the Ukraine: Year 2025 forum in Kyiv on Feb. 23.

Negotiations on a deal to entrench U.S. interests in Ukraine's reserves are ongoing, with the latest draft presented by the White House demanding $500 billion of Ukraine’s natural resources, including critical minerals, to recuperate American aid to Ukraine.

Zelensky said that he will not recognize such a large sum since it vastly outweighs the $100 billion the U.S. has sent to Ukraine under former President Joe Biden.

The president added that the aid given to Ukraine cannot be counted as debts since they are grants and stressed that security guarantees need to be included in the deal. So far no such guarantees have been put in place, he said.

“I am not signing something that will be paid by 10 generations of Ukrainians," Zelensky said, adding that he wants a dialogue with Trump.

The initial White House proposal sought a 50% interest in Ukraine’s natural resources, including critical minerals, oil and gas, as well as critical infrastructure and ports. Zelensky said Ukraine is not ready to “split 50/50 without knowing what’s ahead.”

The Ukrainian leader also pointed out that the U.S. proposed to return future aid with an interest of 1:2. “For every U.S. dollar, Ukraine must return two. In simple terms, this is 100% of the loan,” he said.

The exact details of the current proposal have been kept secret but the administration of President Donald Trump has ramped up pressure on Kyiv to sign. Ukraine has had a back and forth with its American counterparts for nearly two weeks and Kyiv will start working to conclude an agreement with the U.S. on Feb. 24, said Ruslan Stefanchuk, speaker of Ukraine's parliament.

The value and volume of Ukraine’s critical minerals are unknown with the figure hotly debated among experts as assessments are based on old Soviet-era figures. However, $350 billion worth of natural resources are located in the Russian-occupied territories, First Deputy Prime Minister and Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko said at the forum.

Jagoff_Haverford on February 24th, 2025 at 11:46 UTC »

He shouldn’t sign anything with the United States, who will inevitably choose to ignore their obligations and demand yet another negotiation a few months down the road. They simply aren’t a reliable or trustworthy party in negotiations.

TheSleepingPoet on February 24th, 2025 at 11:44 UTC »

PRÉCIS: Zelensky Rejects US Resource Deal That Would Burden Ukraine for Generations

President Volodymyr Zelensky has firmly rejected a US proposal to finance a $500 billion fund using Ukraine’s natural resources, insisting that American aid grants cannot be treated as debts. Speaking at the Ukraine: Year 2025 forum in Kyiv, he dismissed the demand as an unacceptable burden that would weigh on ten generations of Ukrainians.

The proposed deal, which remains under negotiation, would give the United States significant stakes in Ukraine’s reserves, including critical minerals, oil, and gas. The White House initially sought a 50% share of these resources, as well as control over key infrastructure and ports. Zelensky made it clear that Ukraine is unwilling to make such sweeping concessions without knowing what lies ahead.

His resistance has put him at odds with Washington, particularly as Donald Trump’s administration ramps up pressure for an agreement. Zelensky has signalled his desire to negotiate directly with Trump, hoping to secure better terms and ensure security guarantees are included.

At the heart of the dispute is the classification of American aid. While the US argues that financial support must be repaid—potentially at a rate of two dollars for every one received—Zelensky maintains that previous assistance was granted, not loaned. Meanwhile, uncertainty surrounds the true value of Ukraine’s natural wealth, as much of the data is based on outdated Soviet-era assessments. Adding to the complexity, around $350 billion worth of resources are located in Russian-occupied territory.

As negotiations continue, the outcome could shape Ukraine’s economic future for decades. Zelensky, however, has made one thing clear—he will not sign a deal that mortgages the country’s resources to foreign interests without securing its long-term security and sovereignty.

NlLarsD on February 24th, 2025 at 11:39 UTC »

Good that shit is bat shit insane anyways