Ukraine-US Negotiations Over Security and Mineral Resources
The latest news concern a potential peace agreement under discussion between Russia and Ukraine. President Trump has been participating in the debates. Indeed, the US was a major supporter of Ukraine during Biden’s mandate. Ukraine and the United States are in the final stages of negotiations on an agreement that would give Washington access to Ukrainian minerals in exchange for protection. This issue has caused considerable tension with Donald Trump’s administration. Indeed, it has been pressuring Ukraine to sign the agreement. Kiev refused, citing a lack of American security guarantees and unfavorable financial terms. On Sunday, Volodymyr Zelensky reaffirmed that he would not sign an agreement that « ten generations of Ukrainians » would have to repay.
After aligning himself with the Russian position, accusing Ukraine of being responsible for the conflict, and entering into discussions with Moscow without the participation of Kiev or Europe, Donald Trump wishes to recover the American aid paid to Ukraine by gaining access to its mineral resources. He mentioned a figure of $500 billion, which Kiev refused.
Tensions Escalate Between Zelensky and Trump
On Sunday, Volodymyr Zelensky pointed out that American aid since the start of the Russian invasion had amounted to around $100 billion. It has mainly presented in the form of grants from the previous administration. Despite this, he reported progress in negotiations. However, on Friday February 28, 2025, a meeting at the White House between the American and Ukrainian presidents degenerated into an intense verbal confrontation. This confrontation led to Zelensky’s premature departure and the cancellation of the initially scheduled joint press conference.
The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the controversial agreement. However, major differences emerged over security guarantees for Ukraine and the financial terms of the agreement. Trump accused Zelensky of lacking gratitude for American support and risking an escalation to a third world war by refusing to give in to American demands. For his part, Zelensky insisted that Russia could not be considered a reliable partner due to previous violations of ceasefire agreements. The discussion escalated, leading to a breakdown in negotiations and the cancellation of the planned press conference.
This confrontation provoked international reactions, notably from European leaders who expressed their support for Ukraine and its president. The situation highlights the growing tensions between the United States and Ukraine over the management of the conflict with Russia and the conditions of American help.
Finlandization
In parallel with these events, some people are talking not of Finlandization but of Ukrainization. The concept of Finlandization refers to constrained neutrality and limited sovereignty, illustrating the influence of a large country on a smaller one, such as the USSR on Finland after 1945.
Although the notion fell into oblivion after the fall of the wall, the term came back into the debate concerning the Ukrainian crisis.
A number of voices are calling for this model to be applied to Ukraine as a neutral state acting as a buffer between East and West, between Russia and the West.
