Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) has frequently brought up Ukraine’s rare earth minerals as a reason to continue fueling the proxy war.

“This war is about money. People don’t talk much about it. But you know, the richest country in all of Europe for rare earth minerals is Ukraine. Two to seven trillion dollars’ worth of minerals that are rare earth minerals, very relevant to the 21st century,” Graham told Fox News host Sean Hannity in November. “Ukraine’s ready to do a deal with us, not the Russians. So it’s in our interest to make sure that Russia doesn’t take over the place.”

  • pelikan@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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    2 days ago

    Commentators here seem to be missing the main point - Trump is simply responding positively to Zelensky’s offer.

    Proof: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/02/04/ukraine-trump-rare-earth-minerals/ => https://archive.ph/LXP0J

    Ukraine previously offered U.S. access to its rare earth minerals in an effort to keep the Trump administration engaged in supporting the country militarily in its fight with Russia.

    World history knows many battles fought for independence, but the last 10 years of Ukraine’s history represent a unique exaple of a ruthless struggle to become a colony.

    • frozenspinach@lemmy.ml
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      1 day ago

      Commentators here seem to be missing the main point - Trump is simply responding positively to Zelensky’s offer.

      I’m not sure I understand why you think that’s the ‘main’ point, it sounds like you mean this was all at Ukraine’s initiative. But I think the real story is that it has traction because, well, you need two sides to make a deal, and the game changer is Trump’s affirmative interest, which escalates this from offer to mutual interest.

    • apt_install_coffee@lemmy.ml
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      1 day ago

      I actually think this is more an attempt to exploit Trump’s worldview; he’s well-known to view inter-state relationships as purely transactional, and from that lens it seems like a good deal.

      Thing is, depending on how the war goes either Russia or the US will take everything they possibly can from Ukraine; it may well be that offering Trump something the US was probably going to try to take anyway is just about the smartest way to turn somebody who was initially hostile to continued aid into someone personally invested in the outcome.

    • TranscendentalEmpire@lemm.ee
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      2 days ago

      last 10 years of Ukraine’s history represent a unique example of a ruthless struggle to become a colony.

      More like a ruthless struggle to break up with one colonizer in favor of a new one.

      There’s a reason more than half the oligarchs fled to Russia at the onset of the war.

    • zante@slrpnk.net
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      2 days ago

      This is an example of a long standing America foreign policy. Trump is just saying it out loud .

  • MedicsOfAnarchy@lemmy.world
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    2 days ago

    So. All Putin has to do is say. “Don’t send any weapons to Ukraine and when we win, Russia will give you their rare minerals”, and Trump will roll over like a dog begging for a treat. Not that Trump ever knew right from wrong…

  • Questy@lemmy.world
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    2 days ago

    America is the enemy. Smaller states need to work closely together to resist the wanker states like Russia, America, and China.

      • liyunxiao@sh.itjust.works
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        2 days ago

        Azov brigade and the long history Ukrainians enthusiastically helping the Nazis in WWII, both are on wikipedia, citing western sources.

        We shouldn’t help Russia either, given they’re just as bad these days, but treating one better than the other is categorically insane… Unless one is willing to sign over pretty much all their mineral and agriculture rights to us companies.

        • Frodo@startrek.website
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          2 days ago

          Azov is bad, but they aren’t Ukraine as a whole. Their leader is Jewish! As for WWII, you got to be joking. That was 80 years ago.

          • tiredturtle@lemmy.ml
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            1 day ago

            And as Russia is ingrained with Wagner, Rusich etc. does that also declare Putin fascist, with the invasion being fascist infighting?

            • m532@lemmygrad.ml
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              15 hours ago

              Let’s see…

              Fascism is capitalism in decay

              Is russia capitalist? Yes. In decay? No.

              • tiredturtle@lemmy.ml
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                15 hours ago

                A thriving capitalist country can still be fascist. Fascism isn’t just about economic decay, it’s a way for capitalism to protect itself when it’s threatened. Even in a strong economy, if the ruling class sees socialism or worker power as a danger, they can turn to fascism to crush opposition and keep control.

                In Russia’s case, the government serves capitalist oligarchs, suppresses worker movements, and wages war for imperial gain. Fighting between capitalist states, whether Russia or NATO-backed Ukraine, is not a fight for workers. The real struggle is against both systems.

      • liyunxiao@sh.itjust.works
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        2 days ago

        Well recognized! And yes. Compared to a lot of story types that try to avoid Mary sues, it’s nice to just give in occasionally. 这一世我要当至尊 is pretty fun overall, even if it gets a bit too DBZ levels of ridiculous in terms of strict power scaling definitions that it immediately ignores anyway.

        • PolandIsAStateOfMind@lemmy.ml
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          2 days ago

          Yeah i like the genre because it’s an unashamed epic power trips. I blame the western fantasy which degenerated to shitty gritty dark low fantasy and/or pointless strings of long action scenes and keeps at it for over 30 years.

          Btw i recognized the nickname because i currently read the Eternal Supreme :)