A great Ukrainian economist in Kiev described the last position of the administration of US President Donald Trump in the talks as a “colonial” bullying.
The United States has called for controlling a vital pipeline in Ukraine used to transport Russian gas to Europe, according to reports, in a move described as “colonial extortion.”
According to the British Guardian newspaper, US and Ukrainian officials met on Friday to discuss the White House proposals on a metal deal. Donald Trump wants Kiev to surrender its natural resources as a “reaction” in exchange for the weapons that the Biden administration has delivered.
Reuters reported that the talks were more severe.
The latest American draft is more “extreme” than the original version issued in February, which suggested that Washington grant $ 500 billion of rare minerals, as well as oil and gas.
Reuters quoted a source familiar with the talks that the recent document includes a requirement that the US government’s international development financing institution take control of the natural gas pipeline.
The Russian gas transport pipeline, which was built in the Soviet era, extends from the city of Soda in western Russia to the Ukrainian city of Ozhur, nearly 1,200 km, on the border with the European Union and Slovakia.
This Russian gas transport pipeline is an essential part of the Ukrainian infrastructure and a major energy method.
On January 1, Ukraine cut gas supplies at the expiry of its five -year contract with the Russian government energy company “Gazprom”. Both countries had previously gained hundreds of millions of euros as transit fees, including during the first three years of the comprehensive war.
The Americans are doing “everything in their power.” He expected their “colonial” demands to be minimal fortunes that Kyiv accepted.
Last fall, Ukrainian President Folodimir Zellinski suggested giving the United States the right to reach the non -advanced metal sector in Ukraine, believing that such a deal would witness the next Trump administration to provide Ukraine with weapons, in exchange for future profits from joint investments.
Instead, Trump refused to make security obligations or military support, but he wants minerals anyway.
Last week, Trump complained that Zelinski was trying to “back down from an agreement”, and said that Ukraine president would face “major problems” if he did not sign.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Zelinski said he was ready to conclude a deal to modernize his country, but Ukraine can only agree if there is a “parity” between the two sides, with the division of revenues “equally”.
“I just defend Ukraine. This should be beneficial to both the United States and Ukraine. This is the right thing to do,” Zellinski said. The US Treasury confirmed that “technical” talks are ongoing.
