The Trump administration is now promoting a foreign policy based on kleptocracy and imperialism.

The Washington Post reports that “Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky rejected a Trump administration request this week that Kyiv hand over 50 percent of its rare-earth mineral resources — an extraordinary demand that could significantly overshadow the value of aid that has been sent to Ukraine. Ukrainian officials are working on a counterproposal that would still offer Washington more access to the country’s natural resources but would bolster U.S. security guarantees for Ukraine, four people familiar with the discussions said.”

“Zelensky told reporters Saturday that he had not agreed to the Trump administration’s proposal ‘because it’s not ready yet,'” according to The Washington Post.

“He said that security guarantees were not part of the U.S. proposal, and that Ukraine needed that in any agreement with the United States. …”

“Ukraine’s rare-earth mineral resources could be worth trillions of U.S. dollars, with rising demand in electronics, defense systems, drones, and the clean-energy and automotive industries, among others. They are difficult to extract at scale, and while Ukraine has some reserves, it does not mine them at the moment. China currently produces the vast majority of rare-earth minerals. Many but not all of Ukraine’s reserves are in territory occupied by Russia.”

Simon Johnson, Professor of Economics (Massachusetts Institute of Technology), argues that “Investment now in the Ukrainian critical minerals sector could make a lot of sense. But President Trump’s initial offer seems unreasonable, exploitative, and unlikely to help end the war. This is not a good way to promote American interests. … I expect the Ukrainian reaction to be dismay and disbelief.”

The Washington Post reports on the Trump administration’s offer to Ukraine.