Ukraine minerals deal may not buy peace after Trump threat

Ukraine started today with, for once, the diplomatic wind in its sails.
It had finally agreed a mineral deal “framework” with Washington. An agreement that would see the US invest in Ukraine’s recovery, in return for a share of the country’s future profits from its natural resources, energy infrastructure and its oil and gas.
There had also been a first round of peace talks between American, European and Ukrainian officials in Paris, which had been hailed as “positive”.
That was until the both US President Donald Trump and his Secretary of State Marco Rubio threatened to pull out of brokering a ceasefire until progress appeared quickly.
It had been hoped by Ukraine that America’s growing impatience with Russia would translate into further sanctions for Moscow. Instead, the threat of the US washing its hands of the ongoing peace efforts suits the Kremlin more than Kyiv.

Source: BBC | Language: English