US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Ukraine First Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko with signed copies of the mineral deal, Washington, D.C., April 30, 2025
Ukraine War, Day 1,163: Zelensky Hails Minerals Deal…But Trump Demotes Top Advisor Waltz
I joined Poland’s TVP World and Singapore’s Channel News Asia on Thursday to analyze the minerals deal between Ukraine and the Trump Administration.
I explain why the deal is much more favorable to Kyiv than last month’s US proposal, and I examine whether — as Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky hopes — it can open the door to American support of Ukrainian resistance against Russia’s invasion.
The interviews were conducted hours before the announcement that Donald Trump had demoted National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, raising more questions over whether there are “adults in the room” in the Administration.
Watch TVP World
A 15-minute analysis evaluating the different factions within the Trump Administration and whether Ukraine and its European partners can prevail with the Americans willing to work with them:
How do you have security guarantees without saying “security guarantees”? This has been the dilemma for Ukraine and Europe dealing with this Trump Administration since it took office in January.
I also reviewed how the Kremlin threw away its diplomatic advantage, overplaying its hand in trying to break Ukraine.
Watch Channel News Asia
A 7 1/2-minute discussion on the dynamics within the Trump Administration and why it is essential that Europe and the international community maintain support for Ukraine:
The minerals deal is to an extent symbolic rather than “real”. It will take years to extract the rare earth minerals, so any idea of revenues is in theory.
The practical effect is to open up space in the meantime where Ukraine and Europe can say to US officials, including Trump, “You have an interest now in working with Ukraine on its security.”
