[Goose]

Looks like the US and Ukraine reached an agreement on the on-off-on-again minerals deal. I'm not sure how or even if it changes the equation in the war, but considering the alternative it sounds like good news, right?

https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukrain...4c25a47624

IMO it isn't bad news for either the US or Ukraine. The whole thing is so nebulous that it is unclear what it means. The one important understanding it apparently embraces is the idea that previous US aid to Ukraine was a grant and no repayment was expected. If that understanding holds, that would be "good". The idea that the mineral rights are compensation for future reconstruction aid to Ukraine may seem a bit petty, but since the details have not yet been fleshed out even that isn't certain.

Of course, despite attempts to characterize this agreement as committing the US to protecting Ukraine going forward, it in no way does that. The US isn't going to fight a war in Ukraine to preserve a few mining claims or even significant mining businesses. It wouldn't make "business sense" given the risks attendant with a war against Russia.

[Goose]

Looks like the US and Ukraine reached an agreement on the on-off-on-again minerals deal. I'm not sure how or even if it changes the equation in the war, but considering the alternative it sounds like good news, right?

https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukrain...4c25a47624

IMO it isn't bad news for either the US or Ukraine. The whole thing is so nebulous that it is unclear what it means. The one important understanding it apparently embraces is the idea that previous US aid to Ukraine was a grant and no repayment was expected. If that understanding holds, that would be "good". The idea that the mineral rights are compensation for future reconstruction aid to Ukraine may seem a bit petty, but since the details have not yet been fleshed out even that isn't certain.

Of course, despite attempts to characterize this agreement as committing the US to protecting Ukraine going forward, it in no way does that. The US isn't going to fight a war in Ukraine to preserve a few mining claims or even significant mining businesses. It wouldn't make "business sense" given the risks attendant with a war against Russia.