This is actually a clever deal. Russia probably isn't going to attack our mining operations, so that halts their expansion into Ukraine. More so than it already was halted by their ineptitude. So Zelensky gets some security out of this, just not in the form he wanted it. But this form also gives Putin assurance that we're not putting assets there to start trouble. Trump does actually want the minerals. Selfishly, sure. It's exploiting Ukraine for our profit, sure. But that's a motive Putin can trust. Trump does want the minerals. So we're not going to do anything that leads to our mining operations getting blown up in a counterattack.
