When Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, the United States and other Western democracies acted quickly to aid Ukraine. President Biden and other democratic leaders understood it was the right thing to do.
Innocent civilians were being slaughtered. Democracy in Ukraine was endangered. And in fact, the survival of all democracies was at stake. If Putin was successful in taking Ukraine, he would then act against other Eastern European democracies (and maybe all of Europe). He could not be allowed to succeed.
But Donald Trump is now president, and he has never cared about people's lives, the survival of democracy, or doing the right thing. He only cares about one thing - how he can benefit from a deal or situation.
That's why he asked Zelensky to sign over 50% of Ukraine's natural resources. Zelensky refused, because the "deal" wasn't accompanied by security guarantees for his country. Now pundits are saying Ukraine will soon sign the deal (believing Trump will abandon them if they don't).
Ukraine should beware. Donald Trump cannot be trusted. He has a history of turning on friends and business associates after getting what he wants from them. And he has a history of violating agreements he has made when he decides he wants an even better deal.
Take for example the NAFTA agreement with Canada and Mexico. When elected to first time, he decided NAFTA wasn't a good enough deal, so he renovated it with the leaders of Canada and Mexico. Then bragged about the better deal he had achieved with this countries.
But now, he has decided that the deal he negotiated is not good enough. He has threatened heavy tariffs against Canada and Mexico (who have done nothing but abide by the agreement Trump made with them).
That's just what he does. He cannot be trusted.
Personally, I think Trump's demand for Ukraines natural resources is nothing less than extortion. It's unethical and criminal.
But if Ukraine feels they must agree to Trump's demands, they must be sure to get some ironclad guarantees for their security, get it in writing with Trump's signature, and make sure the whole world knows what Trump has agreed to with them. Even that is no guarantee that Trump won't turn on them in the future.
In initiating "peace" talks with Russia, Trump has already excluded Ukraine, promised Russia will get to keep the 20% of Ukraine it currently holds, and promised to stop the economic sanctions against Russia. That is surrendering - not negotiating. And there is no guarantee Trump wouldn't allow Russia to take even more in the future.
Ukraine was already in a bad situation. Having to deal with a man that can't be trusted just makes it worse.
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