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President Trump said the U.S. would impose 100 percent secondary tariffs on countries that trade with Russia if Moscow does not agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine in the next 50 days.

  • Saleh@feddit.orgEnglish
    2·
    6 hours ago

    The EU is not trying to “buy up Ukraine at a discount”, they are pushing for Ukrainian EU membership, which would be mutually beneficial. On the one hand, the EU would gain massive strategic food production and a large experienced military, and further buffer area towards Russia.

    EU tried to get its own minerals deal with Ukraine in the wake of Trump demands.

    https://www.politico.eu/article/critical-minerals-rare-earths-deal-eu-not-donald-trump/

    Also Ukraine joining the EU would not make a “buffer”, unless you would argue in terms of first and second class EU countries, with Ukraine being designated to become a second class one. Ukraine currently is the “buffer” as it is aligned with the EU, but not part of it, so the EU does not bear the same responsibilities towards Ukraine as to other EU members.

    • ℍ𝕂-𝟞𝟝@sopuli.xyzEnglish
      2·
      5 hours ago

      EU tried to get its own minerals deal with Ukraine in the wake of Trump demands.

      Apples and oranges.

      The US minerals deal was “give us all your minerals, we will build our own mines on them that will not be subject to your own country’s laws. You may keep some of the proceeds.”

      The EU minerals deal was “we will give you money and know-how to build your own mines, in exchange for long-term supply agreements. The resources and the mines will remain yours.”

      The difference is the one between someone extorting you to become an indentured taxi driver, and someone offering you a car in exchange for driving them to the airport once in a while. EU support was also not contingent on the deal, while it was made apparent that US support was.

      Also Ukraine joining the EU would not make a “buffer”

      That was indeed bad wording, I apologise. What I meant was that the EU would gain strategic depth and more advantageous launch site arrangements for missile warfare and whatnot, which would be useful for deterrence. I am from the Eastern periphery as well, and TBH I feel that there indeed is a first/second class EU citizen divide mainly along whether your country joined before or after 2004 (which would make me a second class citizen), but I feel that that particular division is getting less pronounced.