Trump has abandoned decades of American foreign policy. Is that bad? A deal over minerals is now at hand. 
Open Feud Erupts
On February 19, the Wall Street Journal reported Trump Calls Zelensky Dictator in Escalating Row Over Ukraine Peace Talks
The feud between President Trump and President Volodymyr Zelensky escalated rapidly on Wednesday, with Trump calling him a “Dictator without Elections” and Zelensky accusing Trump of repeating Russian propaganda.
The back-and-forth barbs marked a significant deterioration in relations that could complicate efforts to end the war in Ukraine. The exchange came one day after Trump accused Zelensky of starting the war, which began after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a large-scale invasion of Ukraine three years ago.
Vance Warns Zelensky
The Daily Mail reports JD Vance warns Zelensky he will regret ‘badmouthing’ Trump and condemns his ‘atrocious’ response to peace talks
Vice President J.D. Vance on Wednesday warned the Ukrainian president against attacking President Donald Trump, saying that ‘badmouthing’ him in public would only backfire.
Vance spoke to DailyMail.com hours after Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelensky accused Trump of living in a Russian-made ‘disinformation space.’
‘The idea that Zelensky is going to change the president’s mind by badmouthing him in public media … everyone who knows the president will tell you that is an atrocious way to deal with this administration,’ said Vance during an exclusive interview in his West Wing office.
Major U.S. Shift on Russia
The Washington Post reports Trump’s Attack on Zelensky Stirs Fear of Major U.S. Shift on Russia
“We do not understand the American logic very well,” French government spokeswoman Sophie Primas said, calling Trump’s comments “diverse, varied and often incomprehensible.” German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Trump’s remarks were “wrong and dangerous,” while his foreign minister, Annalena Baerbock, called on Trump to “look at the real world instead of just tweeting.”
In Congress, even lawmakers who support Trump’s attempts to stop the war begged to differ with his version of events. “I mean, Russia is the aggressor here, there’s no question about that,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-South Dakota) said while urging critics to “give [Trump] some space.” “Dictator,” said Sen. Thom Tillis (R-North Carolina), was “not a word I would use.”
Zelensky on Wednesday called reporters to his presidential office to respond. The U.S. president, he said, was living in a “web of disinformation. … I wish Trump’s team had more truth.”
Trump shot back with a withering personal attack on social media, replete with exaggerations and falsehoods. “Think of it, a modestly successful comedian, Volodymyr Zelenskyy … talked the United States of America into spending $350 Billion Dollars, to go into a War that couldn’t be won, that never had to start,” he said, giving a figure that is nearly double the actual amount of money the United States has spent in military and other aid to Ukraine. “A Dictator without Elections, Zelenskyy better move fast or he is not going to have a Country left. … Zelenskyy probably wants to keep the ‘gravy train’ going,” Trump wrote.
“Trump doesn’t see any of the global dimensions of this and doesn’t even care. Ukraine is like Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria … some other idiot’s war, not his, and he wants it out of the way so he can get the deal with Putin he has always fantasized about,” the former official said. “It’s sad but very simple. And now Zelensky has criticized him, he will try to get rid of him.”
Deal Over Minerals
Please note White House and Ukraine Close In on Deal for Mineral Rights
The U.S. and Ukraine are nearing a deal that would hand valuable mineral rights to the U.S., an agreement that the Trump administration has sought as compensation for military aid to fight off Russia’s invasion, people familiar with the matter said.
Ukraine had refused to sign such a deal earlier this week, sparking a war of words between President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and fears of a break in relations between Washington and Kyiv.
In an apparent nod to an impending deal, Zelensky said in a nightly video address Friday that teams of U.S. and Ukrainian negotiators were working on a draft agreement.
“This is an agreement that can strengthen our relations, and the key is to work out the details to ensure its effectiveness,” he said. “I look forward to the outcome—a just result.”
Zelensky was presented with a deal by U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in Kyiv last week, but refused to sign, saying the Ukrainian side needed to study it further and that a deal should contain some form of security guarantees for Ukraine. Ukrainian officials said that they had only a few hours to study it before it was presented to them.
An agreement could be signed as soon as Saturday, although it isn’t yet complete, people briefed on the talks said. The exact terms couldn’t be learned.
Trump’s national security adviser, Mike Waltz, this week had called the proposed deal “an economic partnership” and “a historic opportunity to have the United States of America co-invest with Ukraine, invest in its economy, invest in its natural resources.”
Ukraine says it has Europe’s largest reserves of titanium, which is used to make alloys for aircraft and naval vessels, and lithium, a key material in batteries.
It also has deposits of rare earths, essential in certain high-tech industries, including defense and renewable energy. While potentially plentiful, the reserves would require massive investment to develop, even in peacetime, and many are located in areas occupied by Russia.
It appears that Zelensky finally got the message from Vance, loud and clear.
Ukraine Sellout?
True to form, the Wall Street Journal editorial board says Trump Tilts Toward a Ukraine Sellout
Mr. Trump on Tuesday mimicked Russian propaganda by claiming Ukraine had started the war with Russia and that Kyiv is little better than the Kremlin because it hasn’t held a wartime election.
It’s tempting to dismiss this exchange as mere rhetoric, but it has the feel of political intention for Mr. Trump. He may be trashing Ukraine’s democracy to make voters think there’s no real difference between the Kremlin and Kyiv. He may think this will make it easier to sell a peace deal that betrays Ukraine.
We doubt most Americans will overlook his false moral equivalence. Mr. Putin’s war of conquest started three years ago this month when Russian troops rolled over the border and tried to capture Kyiv. The war began not because Mr. Putin had legitimate security fears—but because the aging former KGB agent wants to reassemble most of the Soviet empire he saw crumble as a young man.
The U.S. has a profound interest in denying Mr. Putin a new perch on more of the NATO border, which is the real reason America has been right to arm Ukraine.
History Lesson for the WSJ
Flashback March 12, 2014: McCain Heads to Ukraine with Seven Other Senators; Let’s Hope They All Stay; Ugly is Beautiful
Here’s the question of the day: What can senators John McCain (R-Az), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) do for Ukraine?
The answer of course is simple: Nothing.
So, why is that group of eight senators wasting money going there? The only possible answer is some combination of arrogance, political foolishness, and support for warmongering.
How Ugly Can it Get?
Inquiring minds just may be wondering “How ugly can this get?”
That’s a good question. I bring it up because Secretary of State John Kerry stated “[This] can get ugly fast if the wrong choices are made, and it can get ugly in multiple directions“.
Mercy! John Kerry made an accurate statement. I suspect however, we do not see eye-to-eye regarding “wrong choices”
History Lesson Part II
Flashback February 24, 2022 What’s the Real Background Story Behind Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine?
What Happened in Ukraine?
The mess today in Ukraine has its roots in the 2014 when democratically elected Ukrainian President Yanukovych was toppled in a US-backed coup.
Sen. John McCain (R‑AZ), the ranking Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, went to Kiev to show solidarity with the Euromaidan activists. McCain dined with opposition leaders, including members of the ultra right-wing Svoboda Party, and later appeared on stage in Maidan Square during a mass rally. He stood shoulder to shoulder with Svoboda leader Oleg Tyagnibok.
Q: Why did the US want to get rid of Yanukovych?
A: Because he was against Ukraine joining NATO.
The current comedian president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, repeated two days ago his desire to join NATO. I use the term comedian because he literally is a comedian who ran for office and won.
McCain dined with Svoboda Party leader Oleg Tyagnibok. The Svoboda Party is a group of neo-Nazis.
The citizens of Ukraine were used as pawns in yet another US mission that backfired.
And that’s the rest of the story US media will not discuss.
This no way absolves Putin, but US meddling backfires again, and again, and again.
History Lesson Part III
February 12, 2025: Trump Will Talk with Putin on a Peace Deal, No NATO for Ukraine
By applying pressure on both sides, I expect Trump will succeed on a good deal.
The WSJ and Europe were shocked that Trump and vice-president J.D. Vance took NATO off the table.
However, it was Ukraine’s crossing Russia’s red line on NATO that started the war. The US and Ukraine both understood Russia’s red line.
When Trump says Zelensky started the war, that is what he meant.
To repeat, that does not excuse Russia. However, war was the expected result once Zelensky foolishly insisted Ukraine should join NATO.
The WSJ editorial board has been a disaster from the beginning on Ukraine. In contrast, I believe I got things right.
Why is Trump Leading the Ukraine-Russia Peace Talks Without the EU?
Please consider Why is Trump Leading the Ukraine-Russia Peace Talks Without the EU?
Because 1) no one else has a plan, 2) Trump’s plan is likely to work, 3) the EU would screw it up.
Mish Flashbacks
August 27, 2022: Ukraine Violent Stalemate Sets In, How Long Can It Last?
Ultimately, this will end in a negotiated settlement.
How long can Ukraine deal with 60% inflation? EU with energy costs? Russia with difficulty in getting parts and losing military equipment?
November 20, 2023: Is a NATO Backing a Negotiated Deal Between Ukraine and Russia?
A Tweet from NATO appears to back a negotiated peace in Ukraine. That was followed hours later by an official denial. What gives?
…
What’s Guaranteed to Happen?
I have written about this many times before. There is going to be a negotiated settlement that is not going to fully please anyone.
When? It will happen after both sides have had enough of destruction and lives lost, likely accelerated by political events in the US.
Ukraine should play the Trump game delay, delay delay with the promise that good things are coming and in the end renege based on some imagined flaw in the deal.
Zelenskyy also has a bridge in Brooklyn that is for sale.
Great article Mish, nice to see an honest history of the us involvement and the reasons for this disaster.
one of the better and succint articles on a long running state department debacle.
good job!!!
Straight out of the book, ‘I was an economic hit man’. This is nothing new for the US. We’ve spent the past 100 years plundering the natural resources of sovereign nations.
we did give them, not loan them, give them 175 billion, with a “B” – dollars of US taxpayer funds. we stole nothing, we purchased.
The United States has provided approximately $175 billion in aid to Ukraine since the start of the war in February 2022, with around $60 billion allocated specifically for military assistance.
There are less stupid ways to get a deal. The US is trashing it allies to please its enemies. What kind of signal does to send to US allies? China must be very happy now. And the implication that the war was caused by the risk of Ukraine joining NATO plays into Putin’s hand, who started the war citing the errors of Peter the Great, not the threat of Ukraine joining NATO.
He stands to win thanks to western idiocy.
I’m scratching my head wondering why it always has to be so undignified with this guy. The needless, unforced errors will pile up, with our name on them.
There is a lot of propaganda flying through the world at any given moment. It takes different techniques to be effective, to be noticed, to influence events and people.
Consider how over 50% of mishtalk articles are about trump and trump’s policy, picks and actions.
I would say as undignified as Trump’s actions and words might seem to you, there are also very effective at getting your, and the world’s attention.
its not as random as it seems, there is a method, and apparently most peoples emotional programming doesnt allow them to route around this “new thing” that appears before them.
Nice summary. One might add the war started in 2014 when Russia occupied Crimea. But that was after the overthrow and after the US delegation (McCain et al) had made its visit, if I’m not mistaken. The red line of Russia got stepped over quite a long time ago.
In the last 30 days Trump shocked David Muir and Rachel Scott. In the last 30 days a few commentators here predict doomsday every day, several times/day, out doing Rachel Scott. That’s how millionaires become paupers within a few months. Yesterday plunge built a larger cause for moving up.
The doomsday clock is now at 45 minutes after midnight. its another propaganda ploy.
Pearls are being clutched constantly and yet the orbit of the earth continues, same as it ever was…
European neocons, Stermer, Macron, Rutte are pitiful. They are like lap dogs abandoned on the beach – barking, running around and doesn’t know what to do without master.
Also behave like a toddler not even walk properly but pretending brave soldiers going to the battle field but only after peace agreement and US fighter planes must support them. How pitiful!
They don’t know about “peaceful coexistence”.
Now I understand why my grandparents left the Old World: war, war, war. Say what you want about us, hicks of the New World, but we don’t wage war on each other every so often.
No, just on others. Estimated 20 million dead in the last 60 year due to US wars of aggression.
The US and Usonians are but a fraction of the New World.
It is a curse to live where empires collide.
The REAL Mineral Wealth in Ukraine is the FARMLAND.
“However, it was Ukraine’s crossing Russia’s red line on NATO that started the war. The US and Ukraine both understood Russia’s red line.
When Trump says Zelensky started the war, that is what he meant.
To repeat, that does not excuse Russia.”
Yes, it does.
Actually Poroshenko started the war in 2014 with a gun held to his head by neo-nazi radicals and political groups like Svobota. Zelensky was actually a peace candidate and attempted to make peace with Russia early on. Then came the same gun to his head.
why does a comedian run for political office, unless someone in the shadows was funding and advising him. Zelensky is a created character, do you notice how he never wears suits to formal political functions, that is so he stands out, he is a character, a creation of the deep state.
Probably for the same reasons that an actor or a reality TV show star would.
You should change the title of this post to “Zelensky caves to Trump”. It is much more accurate.
“Trump Throws his USA Predecesors Under the Bus”
(half or more of the population)
Hard to imagine. Anyway, ignore the talk and react only to the actions with Trump.
Interesting. Trump is an economic isolationist, yet he wants to dictate what should happen in other countries all over the world.
To think that “he” knows what is right and good for other countries and their populations is curious.
He thinks he can impose simple solutions to complex problems.
This can only lead to disaster.
What a show! Fascinating.
Trump has no empathy for Ukrainians or Gazans – that just is what it is, not a crime.
But his avid interest in their bombed-out real estate is truly bizarre!
Trump has almost no power or leverage regarding the Ukraine. Once you rule out America directly engaging the Russians in battle there – which even Biden did, thank God – and in light of the proven fact that the combined West does not have the military industrial base to supply the Ukraine with sufficient arms (not to mention that they’re running out of men), it becomes obvious that Russia will dictate when and how the war ends. If Harris had won and Jake Sullivan had remained acting president for foreign affairs, the outcome would have been more or less the same. It would only have taken a little longer for the Ukraine to collapse. And since Russia’s territorial goals have only increased in response to western and Ukrainian intransigence, a Blinken-Sullivan stretching out of the conflict would have expanded the territory that eventually becomes Russia (again).
Many times, the simplest solution is the best solution
it is better to have a bad plan, than no plan at all. which is what the rest of the world brings, wringing their hands and complaining “we cannot change the world” or the shadow hands of the elite and the NGO, bringing a “new world Order”.
Trump opposes the New World Order, he prefers a sane and functioning group of nations, rather than a single world government.
What is that curious American saying? Lead,Follow, or get out of the way………….
The way the WSJ has come to be so unhinged is incredible. They used to at least put on an air of objectivity, but they have completely jumped the shark. They obviously have enough business readers to not need USAID/CIA funding like the others, but they have lost the plot. Makes me wonder if they ever had it. It’s been a number of years if they ever did.
All mainstream American media parrots the official hegemonic US military-foreign policy. That policy can’t be reversed with a month’s worth of new appointees. Trump couldn’t change it at all during his first term.
Wall Street likes predictability. Trump is not predictable. Wall Street, and hence their mouthpiece, The Wall Street Journal, do not like unpredictability.
predicability only makes incremental money, if at all. A study of wallstreet indicates large moves are where the money is made (and lost)
Wall street does not love predicability, hence the rest of your theory is provable false.
Why didn’t Robinette (aka Brandon Biden) try to sign a minerals rights deal with Ukraine?
Oh yeah, that’s right. He wasn’t really running the country, and the war mongers were too busy pumping them with $300B, most of which somehow never made it to Ukraine.
I want the US and Ukraine to forswear Ukraine in NATO and end this war. I don’t fear Putin. Yet selling Ukraine defense in exchange for minerals is morally disgusting. Either defending Urkaine is moral or it isn’t. That doesn’t and shouldn’t depend on what or how much we are paid. This metals deal implies the US army is just a mercenary force for hire.
The Biden started this war on ideological principles. The Trump is ending it on principles of realism. You’re still stuck in ideology. I don’t like the Donald’s way of using realism, but, unlike the former, it’s striving for peace and life, which are always better than war and death.
Biden started this war on financial principles, Ukraine like all wars is at its heart about money. Biden’s only ideology has been dollars, hence the pardons.
You have zero moral ground with that argument.
Glenn Beck had an interesting take on the Ukraine mineral agreement. His take was that by working out a deal with Ukraine for minerals the US would have a business agreement with Ukraine in the area and that would deter Russia/Putin from trying to re-invade the Ukraine at a later date
Implying that US businesses can stop hypersonic missiles? Glen is brilliant… not!
unless you haven’t ever read history, the USA has a long history of intefering in other countries to protect american business interests.
See United Fruit Co, Guatemala, and The 1953 Iranian coup d’éta also Viet Nam war and the golden triangle heroin business. Also Afghanistan Heroin Business.
I noticed that those countries never had ballistic missiles, much less hypersonic ones. Those countries couldn’t defend themselves, the only ones that the US don’t cower at.
I agree, ThreeBlind. Haven’t we destroyed Ukraine enough? A million dead men and their women in Western Europe never to come back. Let them do what they want with the resources in what’s left of their country.
Great article. I knew most of this except the bits about McCain’s comments in the middle. Will save this article. We in the US are so propagandized that most in our country don’t know this history and aren’t exposed to contrary views such as that of Steve Cohen, John Meersheimer, Jeffrey Sachs, etc…
the 1st step to knowledge, is to seek it out, never wait for it to be given to you.
Never accept the media’s story of anything. dig for sources
Papa Bush lied to Gorbi. Clinton added the Czechs Republic, Poland and Hungary to NATO. WB Bush added 7 countries stabbing Putin in the back. During Obama NATO reached:30. He beefed up forces in the Baltic states. Trump added zero. Biden added two. Putin f**k Kellogg Briand pact. Trump: f**k NATO and f**k Biden and his DEI generals. He puked them last night. The IDF is losing its top generals in Mar.
There is an interview with Dave Collum and Alex Krainer where they discuss the entire Ukraine situation. When the Soviet Union collapsed there was apparently an agreement that NATO would not move eastward toward Russia. But they did. Ukraine became the line for Putin. NATO was doing threatening war-games in Ukraine. Putin an Zelensky apparently had a peace agreement, but NATO said no. We paid for most of the rest. The interview is on Coffee and a Mike.
Selling defense for mineral rights or other favors is apparently an old means of maintaining control by the western powers.
This is true. There is a State Department memorandum detailing discussions of Secretary of State, James Baker, with Mikhail Gorbachev and Eduard Shevardnadze concerning the collapse of the Soviet Union and the reunification of Germany. It was stated that NATO would not move ‘one inch to the East’. NATO did not expand during Reagan and Bush-I administrations. The expansion started under Clinton and much of the expansion was to the East, some up to the borders of Russia. The actual memorandum is available on the internet
The agreement for resources is an empty promise that can essentially be stopped at their whim. What are we going to do attack Ukraine if they stop allowing the rape of their country?
It’s always war and rape with you socialists. Just try to imagine a world of peace and prosperity for once.
We’ve never had any reservations about waging war for resources before. If Ukrainians East of Lvov had half a brain, they would have welcomed Russian protection against the Americans.
Excellent article Mish. Russia has a population of about 145 million and a military budget of about 1/8th to 1/10th of the US going into the war . Their Military has performed horribly. They thought it would be over in a month . The Russian economy is a small fraction compared to the GDP of the west . We are told to believe they are going to invade everywhere .Even their Nuclear forces are a fraction of what they claim because of their poor maintenace over the years . The Russian airforce has been a non factor they have a very limited navy . You are correct they were provoked by the west . It is sad the carnage of young men for nothing and it needs to end . We did regime change in 2014 the same thing we claim to not tolerate others doing . Thanks Mish for posting the truth .
The truth according to Langley.
The mess began in 2014?
Ukraine fled from russian yoke in 1917. Stalin killed millions of ukranians, but they still want to be a country. Now or in 2100, they will be free.
It’s amazing that any criticism of Zelensky gets likes and criticism of Russia gets dislikes on here. We stood by the US after 9-11 – imagine if we had blamed you for it, or demanded natural resources in return for assistance. Many Europeans died as a result of the support you asked for back then. Absolute shame on you.
Many Americans died in support of Europe on many occasions. We continue to pour US taxpayer money into your protection while you short change your own defense. Occasionally the bill comes due, deal with it.
Incorrect. You does for bankers. All wars are bankers’ wars. Note, the bankers want their payback, in minerals, in this case.
How about this? I dislike both countries or at least their leaders for sure.
F off you commie socialist. You no longer represent the majority of Europeans.
If you Europeons thought you could rely on the country that lost to the Taliban, that’s your stupidity. We’re sick of trying to police the world, and most Americans couldn’t find the Ukraine on a map – much less care about whether Sumy ends up in Russian or Ukronazi hands. Moreover, the vile tactics of UK intelligence – the transparent false flag in Bucha and probably the Crocus Theater massacre in Moscow – serve to remind us of your perfidy, going back to the Lusitania and the Crimean War. It’s fitting that the EU and NATO are housed in the country of King Leopold II with his horrific extractive history in Africa.
I needed a laugh – thanks!
OH NO!!!
“Blockbuster Yale Study: Millions Of Long COVID Patients Might Actually Be Vaccine Injured”
https://www.zerohedge.com/medical/blockbuster-yale-study-millions-long-covid-patients-might-have-been-misdiagnosed-and-are
I don’t see Long Covid Patients in my country in Asia. Not even one. I don’t know if its not prevalent in this part of the world?
Did your country try to inject every person in the country with MRNA – messenger ribonucleic acid which is a type of gene therapy?
it was very strongly suggested to the point of nearly being mandatory that every man,woman and child in the USA should receive such gene therapy, and annual doses thereafter for their entire lifespan.
The Russian Empire had little control over it’s outskirts in the eastern and western flanks. Japan attacked them in the east (encouraged by the Brits). In Ukraine and Poland different people with different languages and religions butchered each others for generations. The czars were not skillful enough to manage their large empire. Centrifugal forces broke it apart, In WWI Wilson “expedition force” invaded Siberia. The Japs stayed. They exchanged Siberia with China. They built the Empire of the Rising Sun that controlled the pacific and threatened GB and the US. Stalin feared Japan the most. He convinced them to attack the US in Pearl Harbor instead of attacking him, giving them Manchuria. Putin avoids fragility. He doesn’t need Kiev and Poland. He doesn’t want NATO near St Petersburg and in Ukraine. He has good relationship with China, India, Iran and the Arab world. He will cooperate with Trump, a Russophile.
Boris Johnson tried to oust Trump. Boris Johnson convinced Ukraine not to sign
the Minsk agreement. Churchill II signed a “Land Lease” agreement with the US.
I don’t see much reason for Ukraine to sign the resource agreement. The US is saying that aid to Ukraine and sanctions on Russia will end regardless of whether Ukraine signs the deal. The US isn’t committing to arms shipments or security guarantees. I don’t see why anyone would agree to give something up for no remuneration.
In the long run, it would most likely be cheaper for the USA to buy minerals from Ukraine on the open market than to fund an endless ‘security guarantee.’
But the US isn’t even offering any meaningful security guarantees. There is zero reason for Ukraine to sign this. The US isn’t offering a single concrete thing that Ukraine wants in exchange. Why would anyone sign a contract giving something away for nothing in return?
My Take on Ukraine.
Between Russia and the U.S., Ukraine is a side show.
Trump want’s Russia back in his goodbooks. Russia can negotiate with Iran and Venezuela – a go between. Russia, Iran and Venezuela control an immense amount of crude oil reserves. Energy = The economy.
If Trump policy causes a recession or god forbid depression, low cost energy supplies are going to have a large impact on the severity of an economic turndown
Plus Trump wants to isolate China away from Russia’s sphere. China and Russia have been antagonists for hundreds of years. Russia also has an influence with India – another country at historical odds with China.
Remember? Hundreds of thousands of Russians are killed by US and European arms. They also swore to defeat Russia at the battle field. They also tried regime change.
Can US gain trust from Russia within a minute?
Problem with it is that Mish has little knowledge on Europe history but of course knows best.
I assume for Mish one happy country is Belarus which didn’t have US/NaTO meddling and Russia was able to put their puppet early. But in reality Belarus is fully controlled by Russia with no democracy and Lukashenko being president for live.
I would like post here showing how good Belarus is per Mish, at least they didn’t have bad McCain, what a relief:)
Now with Ukraine Russia wanted the same to install Yanukovych who eventually would just turn Ukraine into another Belarus. Ukrainian people wanted to avoid that and that is a reason for orange revolution. For Ukraine only option to really escape that Russia thread was to join NATO so they seek it.
So it is not true that US started something.
Of course US/NATO could just leave it the way it is and let it happen and I agree we would all save ton of money.
But again are we back into XIX century? If that is a case indeed, let Russia get Ukraine and whatever else they want, Chine can take Taiwan for start and US can claim Greenland or maybe Panama, because who can challenge them.
“So it is not true that US started something.”
The head of NATO admitted NATO expansion was the cause in public statements Sept 2023. And NATO is (90%) the US.
again you and Mish are confusing cause and result. Cause of whole situation was Ukraine wanting to separate from Russia as they started to meddle into their affairs (to again convert it into another Belarus) . Ukraine started begging around if anybody can help. Now US/NATO said OK, we will try.
The same is happening now in Moldova, people are protesting to avoid being taken by Russia, just this is so small country that nobody cares.
Please read also about Georgia and how they also tried to remain independence in 2008 and how it ended.
Again this is not US leading some dumb countries to demise but those countries trying to distance themselves form their powerful neighbor.
If NATO should be helping Ukraine is another story, this was I assume strategic decision at that time.
This is exactly the US leading small countries to their demise. They act as though they’re “helping” the forces of democracy, but as soon as Georgian Dream wins, the NED sends its paid-for demonstrators into the street with signs in English. Same in Hungary. Samantha Power doesn’t show up to “help”. Even the NYT admitted (an admission against interest) that the CIA had at least 12 bases in eastern Ukraine. The US ropes small countries into its sphere of influence mostly so it can base weaponry on their territory. Poland, Romania, recently Bangladesh (our recent regime change operation). Pull your head out. Stop watching Hollywood movies.
This is where average American cannot understand Europe, you don’t know background. Last 1000 years of Europe history is constant war, uprising, countries fold and reemerge, attack neighbors or defend themselves. Idea that America is only adult in a room leading some simpletons is just naive. They do this shit long before America even existed.
Georgia might be now under Russia but if you talk with people there they don’t think of themselves as Russians and if only option pops they will try escaping. That is exactly what happened when Soviet Union ended, everybody announced independence
Now as I said if “NATO meddling” in Ukraine didn’t happen starting say in 2005 this whole war would not start for sure but Ukraine would be another “happy” Belarus by now. Ukrainians know this and that is why they fight.
If there’s a mineral deal in exchange for US help, the war will continue and it’s in America’s and Europe’s interest for Ukraine to continue eroding Russia’s military capability. Most of the money the US is spending goes to US military contractors who are here in America, so it’s good for jobs and our weapons companies. Zelinskyy and Ukraine don’t intend to hand over 20% of the country, and Trump doesn’t give a damn about what happens in Donbas or Mariopol. What happened this week exposed Trump for the Russian sympathizer and Russian asset that he is. Trump has done business with Russian gangsters for decades. His condo business was a money laundering operation for Russian and former Soviet state criminals who run those countries, and Trump sold them hundreds of overpriced condos for cash. The managing partner for Trump Soho was a Russian named Sater who made deals for Trump branding of hotels and not just in Manhattan. Sater was a friend of Michael Cohen who grew up with him in Brooklyn. Sater was also a criminal who Trump claimed he didn’t really know, which of course was another Trump lie. Sater’s real name was Felix Sheferovski and he emigrated from Russia and was charged with serious securities fraud when he worked for the Russian mob in New York. Trump sold condos for cash in Trump Tower and the FBI got involved in a case involving a cash deal for 5 condos. I could go on but you get the point…there’s a serious Russian connection with Trump and Donny Jr. told someone a lot of their “investors” were from Russia. That’s a matter of record.
Ukraine is eroding Russia’s military capability? Even Syrskyi recently admitted that they can’t last past early summer.
Amazing that the FBI/DOJ overlooked this in their efforts to find something on Trump!
We know it’s you, Liz Cheney
Trump isn’t responsible for this war, but a huge cadre of Americans are. They “led Ukraine down the primrose path” as Mearsheimer says. We should let the Ukrainians keep the minerals in whatever is left of their country after they surrender. It’s unseemly to extract a tribute from them after we’ve used them like a cheap whore and led them to destruction.
What absolute trash written by WSJ. Their CIA handlers don’t fool anyone. Try to catch recent interview with John Mearsheimer and Piers Morgan and you will get the truth regarding the Ukraine situation. Just pathetic propaganda by WSJ. I don’t know who would pay for their garbage news.
Yeah, you called this one right Mish. I am just not sure how valuable those mineral rights are going to be. If you invest in Ukraine, is the government there going to respect property rights? I am not sure.
“…Zelensky said in a nightly video address…”
Surprised the guy hasn’t run out of material.
Perhaps one of the terms is to change the spelling of the capital back to Kiev.
One DONE deal is worth two AT HAND deals.
But only a deal that will be honored is worth making.
Canada and Mexico can tell you all about it.
Trump’s public attack on Zelensky was a dogwhistle to Putin.
Russia will take Ukraine. As a reward for not interfering, Trump will ask Putin for a deal on mineral exports.
I accused Trump of being Neville Chamberlain for rolling over for Putin so quickly. He’s worse – he’s a thin skinned mob boss extorting Ukraine. I hope our remaining allies are paying close attention and plan accordingly.
I think you’ve got that about right. Nobody trusts Trump. Republicans in the Senate don’t trust him or like him but they fear him and his voters. There’s a lot of stupid in America. Trump extorted Zuckerberg and other billionaires out of millions. They’re terrified of him too. Trump’s a classic bully who has now degraded the DOJ, FBI, DOD and our intelligence services replacing competent people with Trump loyalists who will do anything he tells them to do, even if it’s illegal.
News flash, every president replaces the heads of agencies and departments with loyalists, that’s the whole point of winning an election. What good is it to win the election and then leave the other guys picks in place to thwart your every move? Also, I think your definition of “competent” needs some work. If the last 4 years were a study in competence then I’ll take the alternative please.
Good analogy.
Interesting how he’s trying to control NYC, though he has little jurisdiction there.
Well we finally know part of Trumps “Plan B” for Mineral requirements, and some rare earth metals. Yet TBD how much and from exactly where, and how fast, but it’s a start, and more than we had access to before the deal.
Now the real question remaining, is if Greenland will make the other 1/2 of Trumps “Plan B” come fully together. We shall see, but for now, it looks as though some needed questions may have been partly answered.
Nice Job!!
Trump is Putin’s lap dog. What else do you need to know to know what’s going to happen next? It’s probably the worst betrayal by America of a country fighting for its freedom ever.
The betrayal started years before 2022 when American warmongers started prepping Ukraine to be used as a proxy to “weaken Russia” (Lloyd Austin). Obama said the Ukraine was an existential threat to Russia. They knew Russia couldn’t let the Ukraine fall under American control. The NYT admitted the CIA had at least 12 bases in Eastern Ukraine. The Kiev regime was bombing the Russian people of the Donbas and were building up forces in Feb 2022 to attack Luhansk and Donetsk – in contravention of Minsk II which they had signed and which had been ratified by the UN Security Council. It was a betrayal for the Americans to tell the Ukraine we would help them defeat Russia when the only way to do that would’ve been to fight Russia directly – which would have quickly and inexorably have led to nuclear war. The only defense that the warmongers have is that they believed their own bullshit – that western arms would outmatch Russian conventional weaponry. Of course, quantity has a quality all its own, and in an artillery war, Russia had ten times the number of shells. Even Biden admitted that when he explained why we had to send cluster munitions – because we were out of 155mm shells. Look at these vile monsters who in Dec 2016 said it was time “we” take the fight to Russia. “We” my ass. Miss Lindsay never had to face Russian artillery. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6RaCgYMAjEY&pp=ygUpR3JhaGFtIG1jY2FpbiBhbiBrbG9idWNoYXIgaW51a3JhaW5lIDIwMTY%3D
LOL
That propaganda gets old.
This will probably be the most contrived, unnecessary, completely motivated by evil war on this century, just as WW2 was the uncessary war of the previous century.
NONE of this needed to happen. Nobody on the so called ‘bad’ Russian side wanted any of this.
Clowns are such a vicious creature. 1.2 million dead, 2.5 million casualties, hundreds of billions wasted. For nothing.
The whole thing is repugant.
Greedy parasites in suits (and pant suits) wanted a war, insisted on it, and this is what they wrought.
Thankfully America saw this, and gleefully and overwhelmingly voted for CHANGE!!
“WW 2 was the unnecessary war”-Churchill Wow, the government’s holy war was not necessary.
Trump is scum and Zelensky is a hero who has rallied support for his small country instead of caving. Disgusting that Trump requires a financial offset to protect democracy while Ukraine has already lost so much. How anyone could support such a depraved soul is puzzling beyond words
Zelensky is scum. Put into his position by an oligarch, he made the mistake of trusting a country thousands of miles away when they (we) promised the impossible – that we could help Ukraine defeat Russia. He’s sent a million Ukrainians to their deaths while stealing millions or more. He’s as evil as Americans like Sullivan, Blinken, Nuland, Klobuchar etc.
https://www.armstrongeconomics.com/world-news/corruption/did-zelensky-biden-deliberately-kill-an-american-for-free-speech/
You are spewing lies. Unknowingly, you are disseminating Russian propaganda.
American propaganda comes from the WaPo, NYT, CNN.
Triple B:
Let’s not forget that Mish Talk is frequented by paid trolls.
I come here mainly for Mish’s macro economic analysis.
Oh yeah, anybody who disagrees with official Deep State narrative is a paid troll. Whatever.
Is that you sock-puppeting again, Zelensky?
Wow lol, TDS extra bad today?
ok you get all those minerals with plans to bring the production back to the USA …..Who Wants to Work in a Factory? https://arenamag.com/2025/02/11/who-wants-to-work-in-a-factory/
I worked in factories. Honor labor. Manufacturing is the purest form of wealth creation.
The U.S. IPO Market Needs Saving. Could Paul Atkins Be the Answer?
Trump’s nominee for SEC chair has been critical of regulatory burdens for public companiesThe U.S. IPO Market Needs Saving. Could Paul Atkins Be the Answer? – WSJ (archive.ph)
Now, after the US betrayal, all countries in the world will seek to have Nuclear Weapons.
Yes, one of significant reasons for NATO existence is to… strongly discourage smaller countries to develop nuclear weapons. Nuclear Non-proliferation was key goal of US foreign policy since WW2.
Would isolationist Americans accept domestic nuclear weapon programs in Sweden? Poland? Baltic States?
What is Mish opinion?
If that were true then why did NATO – a supposed “defensive alliance” – topple Gaddafi whose only mistake was ending his nuclear program?
You forgot that Gaddafi was overthrown in internal rebellion?
Or maybe you forgot that Gaddafi started military attacks against US?
In the first Gulf of Sidra incident, 19 August 1981, two Libyan Su-22 Fitters fired upon two U.S. F-14 Tomcats and were subsequently shot down off the Libyan coast.
But US-Gaddafi conflicts have no relation to nuclear weapons discussion.
Gaddafi died 30 years after the Gulf of Sidra. He’d given up his nuclear program after the US attacked Iraq in 2003. We rewarded him by bombing his country and instituting a no fly zone so his Air Force couldn’t attack the jihadis who took over Libya. And the whole thing was a NATO operation. Defensive alliance my ass.
I like how everyone talks about Ukraine sellout. Fighting the proxy war over them and asking them to lower recruitment age to 18 (Blinken asked multiple times) so that more of their kids get killed is not a sellout.
You are giving me a headache. Only way to pull minerals out of Ukraine is for American boots on the ground to guard against Putin causing trouble. I thought America was gonna stay out of this stuff. Looks like someone lied to someone.
We lied to people with the brain of a goldfish, and they’ve already forgotten.
Most of the vital minerals are in the East of former Ukraine – ie, Russia.
The USSR was pretty good at extracting the riches out of the soil. If even the Soviets didn’t think that the ore in western Ukraine was worth the investment, albeit in a communist regime, it still ain’t.
Yes, Mish, you have been correct to the letter about Ukraine all along.
For Putin’s stooge the real estate in Yalta and Sevastopol in Crimea would be worth a lot more than Gaza…or Trade ukraine to russia and we get siberia with minerals and china illegal immigrants to deport ! The most American aid went to America military complex who sent old weapons and American billionaires !
the mineral rights? Such colonialism, it would put Ukraine in servitude forever. trump, putin, musk, tutsi – welcome to idiocracy !
“I have written about this many times before. There is going to be a negotiated settlement that is not going to fully please anyone.”
Why you are so sure?
Russia continue military attacks into Ukraine. Russian readership clearly believe that they have upper hand in war. Putin continues to insist on functional destruction of Ukrainian state (“demilitarization”, “denazification” and elimination of current government supported by Ukrainian majority). Russia can simply continue war to try to conquer majority or all of Ukraine.
Still clinging on fantasy tales?
“The mess today in Ukraine has its roots in the 2014 when democratically elected Ukrainian President Yanukovych was toppled in a US-backed coup. ”
The mess today in Ukraine has its roots in the 2014 when Putin’s puppet dictator Yanukovych (‘elected’ in fraudulent elections) was toppled in massive popular revolution. Here, I fixed that for you.
Ukrainian resistance against Russian invasion should be strong hint that Ukrainians do NOT support Russian rule in Ukraine. One would expect that even dumbest individuals would understood that now.
What a hoot!
I will let your post stand for amusement
You may be amused but my post in factually correct.
Central root cause of this war is Putin’s loss of control over Ukraine. Not NATO, McCain, CIA, UFOs or anything else.
Putin is fighting very costly war to regain that control.
He will either regain control and win or he will lose.
Your post is factually horseshit. Ukrainian men are forcibly conscripted – beaten by goons and thrown into vans. They’re trained for a couple weeks and then thrown into the meat grinder. If they try to surrender or desert, they’re shot by other Ukrainians. Zelensky gives not a single shot about them as he stashes away millions while prancing around in his stinky green T shirt.
‘He will either regain control and win or he will lose.’
Or, as NATO, CIA, democrats, McCain and other war hawks would have preferred, the war would have gone on forever.
You haven’t read, or read and not understood, or read and not believed, Russia’s goals in Ukraine.They haven’t changed, and now that Ukraine/NATO/US has lost the war, Russia will dictate terms harsher than what was the original objective. This has been a giant clusterfudge among NATO and the US from the start, and now the chickens are coming home to roost. Another useless and costly foreign war.
Huge amounts of USAID money funded the overthrow of elected Yanukovych. CIA assets on the ground involved.
Russia unanimously has expressed for 30 years that having NATO missiles on its borders was the line in the sand the US shouldn’t cross. (Like missile in Cuba for JFK.) The Neocon Obiden apparatus fomented this war. Zelensky did what he was paid to do; it is certain he has big buck stashed safely in Europe.
Re Ukrainian resistance strength, they are fighting with a conscripted (slave) army. Many rounded up by press gangs.
There is nothing democratic about Ukraine. No free speech, all political opposition in jail, the majority Orthodox church persecuted (churches stolen, priests arrested and beaten). It was the most corrupt country in Europe even before Obiden sent them 200 billion to launder. They spend a chunk of that money on propaganda in the US.
Technically the CIA assets weren’t on the ground. They were atop buildings surrounding Maidan Square. Better aim from up there.
Not sure why anyone cares what the WSJ or WaPo writes about anything. Both are part of the CIA curated infosphere
The last several decades of US foreign policy have been undertaken by the CIA/MI6. So Trump changing that is without question a good thing
The CIA has been running the US at least for the last 25 years or so, probably longer
It is time to cut them out and return governance to the people
The same people who want a gigantic welfare state and dont want to pay for it.
A deal Russia will certainly honor…