Ukraine could be extremely useful to the United States because it is awash with valuable natural resources and is willing to negotiate a deal with the United States to exploit them, said Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, an ally of Donald Trump.
The South Carolina senator told Fox News that the conflict in Ukraine is ultimately “about money.”
“Did you know that the richest country in Europe in terms of rare earth minerals is Ukraine? Rare earths are estimated to be worth between $2 trillion and $7 trillion,” said Graham.
The senator noted that Ukraine was ready to “make a deal with the United States,” not Russia. “So it’s in our interest to make sure that Russia doesn’t take over this place,” Graham said, describing Ukraine as “the breadbasket of the world.”
“We can make money and have an economic relationship with Ukraine. That would be very beneficial to us, to peace,” Mr. Graham continued.
“Donald Trump will make a deal to get our money back, to enrich us with rare earth minerals. A good deal for Ukraine and us,” the senator pointed out.
Senator Lindsay Graham is known for his hardline stance on supporting Ukraine and containing Russia. In February, he was placed on Russia’s list of “terrorists and extremists” after the senator supported labeling Russia a “state sponsor of terrorism.”
In mid-October, President Zelensky presented his “victory plan,” stating that Kiev was ready to sign with Western backers “a special agreement on the joint protection of important resources available” in Ukraine.
Earlier this month, Mikhail Podoliak, a senior adviser to President Zelensky, also stressed that Ukraine has “rare mineral deposits, such as lithium and titanium, that we can exploit together with the United States.”
Mr Trump has vowed to quickly end the conflict in Ukraine. Media reports suggest that Mr Trump may try to force Ukraine to abandon its ambitions to join NATO and negotiate a freeze in the conflict.
However, Russia has ruled out the possibility of freezing along the current front line, stressing that all of its military campaign goals must be achieved.
