Ukraine, Russia react to controversial US minerals sharing deal
The draft published by lawmakers does not include any explicit U.S. security guarantees — long one of Kyiv’s primary demands. However, the agreement “guarantees new deliveries of American weapons, including air defense systems — their cost will be credited to a joint fund,” according to Mykhailo Podolyak, an advisor to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
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The U.S.-Ukraine Mineral Deal: What We Know
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JASON STANLEY
New column: Fascism WatchJason is an award-winning author and currently a professor of philosophy at Yale. An expert in authoritarian governments, Jason recently decided to move to Canada, calling the Trump administration “a fascist regime.” He will begin teaching at the University of Toronto in the fall. Jason is the author of several books, including the New York Times bestseller How Fascism Works: The Politics of Us and Them and Erasing History: How Fascists Rewrite the Past to Control the Future.
In his new Zeteo column, Fascism Watch, Jason will write about the growth of authoritarianism under Trump and the threats of fascism around the world. Stay tuned for his new column, coming soon! For now, check out Jason’s piece from last year, Political Violence Makes The Task Of Stopping Trump And Fascism Much Harder.
Previously:
Yale professor who studies fascism fleeing US to work in Canada +
EXCLUSIVE: “How Fascism Works” Author Jason Stanley Plans to Leave the U.S. | Amanpour and Company (16:38 is where he talks about leaving)
Read More »Ukraine is nearing a deal to grant the U.S. access to its rare minerals in exchange for continued political and, perhaps, military support, though negotiations face challenges since 40% of these resources are in Russian-occupied territory. With Trump pushing for access to these minerals while also engaging in talks with Russia, Ukraine faces uncertainty over its strategic partnerships as it navigates its war effort and economic future.
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That being said, information about what materials Ukraine has and where they are located presents snags for negotiations. Namely, Ukraine can’t promise access to all its materials when a reported 40% of the minerals are under land currently occupied by Russia.
On top of that, the main motivation for Zelensky agreeing to swap minerals is likely to be in return for military aid from America—which Ukrainian officials say has not been explicitly penciled into the draft.
Despite this, yesterday sources in Kyiv confirmed the terms to share materials—including oil and gas—are almost agreed after months of negotiation.
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Read More »Serhiy Pashinsky, a controversial figure with ties to the 2014 Euromaidan Protests, has seen his company, Ukrainian Armoured Technology, experience a massive increase in arms sales profits, driven by European aid and war contracts. Accusations link him to violence during the protests, but these remain uninvestigated due to fears of reprisals. Western powers have largely avoided addressing the allegations to maintain Ukraine’s image and not validate Russian narratives. Pashinsky’s case highlights the complex relationships between Ukrainian oligarchs, the West, and the ongoing conflict. Watch the video to know more.
The Man Who Profited from Ukraine’s Pain
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Ukraine could be looking at another Maidan
Meanwhile, Zelenskyy’s assurances don’t assuage some veteran observers of the country either. “We have not seen significant enough efforts to address corruption — although perhaps with one important exception,” said a former senior U.S. diplomat who has considerable experience in Ukraine. “I think they really are trying to prevent diversion of any of the massive Western assistance they’re receiving. I believe they do understand the risks, if there were to be a major scandal.”
But the former diplomat said that what struck him in recent meetings with opposition politicians and civil society leaders in Kyiv was how, “on the one hand, they truly appreciate Zelenskyy’s strength as a war leader,” but are “deeply worried also about corruption and his authoritarian style.”
“In their minds, there is going to be a reckoning as soon as the war ends,” he said. “And I think that’s probably going to be true.”
By Margarita Lyutova. Abridged translation by Sam Breazeale, Meduza, 8/10/22
In late July, a team of researchers from Yale published a report titled “Business Retreats and Sanctions Are Crippling the Russian Economy.” Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the same team has maintained a list of international companies that have ceased operations in Russia in response to the war. The project is led by management and corporate responsibility expert Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, a professor at the Yale School of Management and the founder of Yale’s Chief Executive Leadership Institute. The report has been cited widely in recent weeks, but Sonnenfeld is neither an economist nor a Russia specialist, and experts have raised doubts about some of the report’s claims. Economic journalist Margarita Lyutova explains why the researchers’ conclusions might be worth taking with a grain of salt.
Meduza: A widely cited report predicting doom for the Russian economy has come under scrutiny from economists
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Business Retreats and Sanctions Are Crippling the Russian Economy
Ms. Cat’s Chronicles 