Can the US and Ukraine reach a minerals deal? | Inside Story

Ukrainian soil contains around five percent of the world's rare earth mineral deposits.
To US President Donald Trump, that looks like a cash payment, in return for the billions Washington has sent to Ukraine to support its war against Russia.
Trump is demanding Kyiv sign over the rights to about $500bn worth of that mineral wealth.
President Zelenskyy has rejected the first draft of that deal - saying he can't quote, "sell the state".
But at what point does selling the state start to look like saving the state?
And how practical is it to extract resources from war-battered Ukraine?

Presenter: Cyril Vanier

Guests

Peter Zalmayev - Executive Director, Eurasia Democracy Initiative, Political Scientist and Commentator.

Anatol Lieven - Director, Eurasia Program, Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft.

Theresa Fallon - Director, Centre for Russia Europe Asia Studies & Senior Fellow at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs.

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