Colombia's president slams Ukraine's plan to sign precious metals deal with US as 'stupidity'

[Judi Lynn]

'Zelenskyy's stupidity, and I say this clearly, for allowing himself to be manipulated by Western Europeans, who do not know where they are going, whether towards Hitler or towards nothing,' says Gustavo Petro

Zeynep Katre Oran and Seda Sevencan |
26.02.2025 - Update : 26.02.2025

ANKARA/ISTANBUL

The Colombian president on Wednesday criticized Ukraine’s reported plan to sign a deal allocating a portion of the country's precious metal revenues to the US, calling its President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s "stupidity."

“Zelenskyy's stupidity, and I say this clearly, for allowing himself to be manipulated by Western Europeans, who do not know where they are going, whether towards Hitler or towards nothing; they fight with their Slavic brothers and end up giving Ukraine to the Americans. !Stupidity!” Gustavo Petro said in a statement on X, alongside a news report about Ukraine's potential deal with Washington.

On Feb. 3, US President Donald Trump said Washington was interested in acquiring rare earth minerals from Ukraine. Trump said the war in Ukraine must end and emphasized that if the US continues to support Kyiv, there should be something in to the meeting amid ongoing negotiations over a critical minerals deal.

"I hear that he's coming on Friday. Certainly, it's okay with me if he'd like to, and he would like to sign it together with me. And I understand that's a big deal, a very big deal," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office, referring to the agreement that would see Ukraine share a portion of its critical mineral revenues with the US.

More:
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/americas/colombias-president-slams-ukraines-plan-to-sign-precious-metals-deal-with-us-as-stupidity-/3493785

[no_hypocrisy]

1. Gustavo Petro is correct. This "transaction" IS stupid.

If Zelensky and his government had been more strategic, they would have SOLD the rare minerals for a PROFIT and getting the money up front. What they have now is a BARTER, where Ukraine is exchanging their wealth for what was considered a charitable donation of military aid.

I don't remember FDR and/or Truman demanding reparations from France, Britain, and western Europe for entering WWII on their behalf.

And I also don't remember Ukraine telling Stalin to take all their wheat, leaving them to starve, if he just left them alone.

[BeyondGeography]

2. Fight with their Slavic brothers?

What the fuck does that even mean? Sounds like a Putin frame to me.

I hate the deal too, but what’s Petro’s answer to getting bombed every night by their “Slavic brothers”? The ink isn’t dry on this deal and no one has seen the fine print. I’m sure there’s wiggle room for Ukraine, not least if a Democratic Administration succeeds Trump and tears the thing up, just as the R’s do with our agreements. Meantime, Petro should show more respect to a leader who has done more for his country in the last three years than most leaders including him will do in a lifetime.

[doc03]

3. It certainly is stupid. What I have heard is Trump also has a mineral deal with

Putin. He is just opening the door for Putin to take Ukraine. When he takes over Putin and Trump
will have full access to Ukraine's wealth. I can't believe Zelensky could be stupid enough to sell out his
country to Trump and Putin.

[Wiz Imp]

4. Ridiculous. The one thing Zelenskyy is NOT is stupid.

He knows what he is doing. The one thing Trump IS is stupid. He has no clue about anything. Anyone who thinks Trump could get the better of Zelenskyy in any deal has not paid any attention to the last 9 years.