-
Denkey wonder-strike keeps Cincinnati on track in MLS
-
Barca edge Real Madrid in extra-time to win wild Copa del Rey final
-
'Legendary' Eubank Jr beats Benn in grudge bout
-
Thunder sweep past Grizzlies into NBA playoffs 2nd round, Cavs on brink
-
South Korea's Ryu and Japan's Saigo share LPGA Chevron lead
-
Canada leaders make closing pitches in campaign upended by Trump
-
De Bruyne's Man City exit 'so difficult' for Guardiola
-
'No regrets' for Amorim over Man Utd move
-
Lyon and Strasbourg win to close in on Europe, Montpellier relegated from Ligue 1
-
Toulouse thrash Castres as Top 14 pursuers stumble
-
Djokovic crashes to nervous Arnaldi in Madrid opener, Swiatek advances
-
Olympic champs Russell, Davis-Woodhall win at Drake Relays
-
Browns end Sanders long draft slide
-
Cavs crush Heat, on brink of NBA playoff sweep
-
Fire rages after major blast at Iran port kills 8, injures hundreds
-
Kiwi Beamish wins Penn Relays 1,500m crown with late kick
-
Mbappe on Real Madrid bench for Clasico Copa del Rey final
-
England survive France fightback to seal Women's 6 Nations slam
-
Palace sweep past Villa to reach FA Cup final
-
CAF appoint Moroccan Lekjaa first vice-president
-
Major blast at Iran port kills 5, injures hundreds
-
Rodgers vows to stay with Celtic after fourth successive Scottish title
-
Ipswich relegated as Newcastle, Chelsea boost top five bids
-
Canada leaders make final pitches in campaign upended by Trump
-
Mullins -- Ireland's national training treasure
-
US, Iran say progress in 'positive' nuclear talks
-
Mullins emulates O'Brien with second successive trainer's title
-
Ipswich relegated after one season in Premier League
-
Just Stop Oil activist group holds final march
-
Djokovic crashes to nervous Arnaldi in Madrid opener
-
Syria's Kurds demand 'democratic decentralised' Syria
-
Leverkusen win to delay Bayern and Kane's title party
-
Buenos Aires farewells native pontiff with tears and calls to action
-
Turkey's opposition says Erdogan's canal plan behind latest arrests
-
Maresca hails 'nasty' Chelsea as top five bid stays alive
-
Trump raises Putin doubts after Zelensky talks at pope's funeral
-
Major blast at Iran port kills 4, injures hundreds
-
Napoleon's sword to be sold at auction in Paris
-
Iran, US discuss nuclear deal in third round of talks
-
Buenos Aires farewells native pontiff with call to action
-
Warholm sets hurdles world record at Diamond League, Holloway shocked
-
US students 'race' sperm in reproductive health stunt
-
Wikileaks founder Assange joins crowds for pope funeral
-
Leader Marc Marquez claims Spanish MotoGP sprint victory
-
Celtic win fourth successive Scottish Premiership title
-
Jackson ends drought as Chelsea boost top five push
-
Warholm sets 300m hurdles world record in Diamond League opener
-
Major blast at south Iran port kills 4, injures hundreds
-
Russia says retook Kursk from Ukraine with North Korean help
-
Francis laid to rest as 400,000 mourn pope 'with an open heart'
Trump’s Ukraine Economic Colony Plan Stirs Debate
As the war in Ukraine continues to reshape global geopolitics, a contentious proposal from US President Donald Trump has ignited fierce debate. Reports emerging in early 2025 suggest that Trump is pushing a deal that would grant the United States significant control over Ukraine’s vast natural resources, effectively turning the war-torn nation into what critics are calling an "economic colony." This development, rooted in negotiations tied to US military and financial aid, has raised alarm bells in Kyiv and among European allies.
According to sources, including a detailed report by EurasiaTimes on 20 February 2025, Trump’s administration has proposed a contract that demands a 50% share of Ukraine’s revenue from its critical minerals, ports, infrastructure, oil, and gas reserves. This comes as a condition for continued US support, which has been vital to Ukraine’s defence against Russia’s invasion since February 2022. The proposed terms are staggering: the US claims it has provided $500 billion in aid—a figure disputed by independent estimates, such as the Kiel Institute for the World Economy, which pegs US contributions at approximately $119 billion as of late 2024. In return, Trump seeks economic dominance over Ukraine’s resources, estimated to be worth trillions of dollars.
Ukraine, despite occupying just 0.4% of the Earth’s surface, is a treasure trove of rare earth elements, titanium, lithium, and other minerals critical to modern technology and defence industries. However, much of this wealth remains untapped or lies in Russian-occupied territories, complicating extraction efforts. Trump’s plan, as outlined in a leaked document cited by The Telegraph on 7 February 2025, includes establishing a "joint investment fund" to ensure that "hostile conflict parties"—namely Russia and potentially China—do not benefit from Ukraine’s reconstruction. The deal also reportedly grants the US "investment screening" powers, allowing Washington to dictate Ukraine’s economic partnerships.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has expressed unease, rejecting an initial draft in February 2025 that lacked security guarantees. "It is very important that there is a connection between security guarantees and a form of investment," Zelensky said, as reported by NBC News on 19 February 2025. His hesitation reflects a broader concern: that accepting Trump’s terms could lock Ukraine into a perpetual state of economic subservience, reminiscent of colonial arrangements imposed on defeated nations after major wars. Ukrainian economist Roman Sheremeta described the proposal as "effectively turning Ukraine into an American colony," a sentiment echoed across social media platforms like X, where users have labelled it "economic colonisation."
The plan has drawn sharp criticism internationally. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called it "egoistic" during an EU summit on 4 February 2025, arguing that Ukraine’s resources should fund its own rebuilding, not serve foreign interests. European leaders fear being sidelined, especially as Trump has pursued direct talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin—most recently on 19 March 2025—without consulting NATO allies. These negotiations, held in Saudi Arabia, have fuelled speculation that Trump might trade Ukrainian sovereignty for a swift resolution to the conflict, a move that could bolster his domestic image ahead of the 2026 midterms.
Trump defends his approach, framing it as a pragmatic exchange. "We’ve given them hundreds of billions, and they’ve got great rare earths," he said on 4 February 2025, per Newspapers. He has also threatened to halt US military aid—paused since 3 March 2025—unless Zelensky complies, a stance that has deepened tensions following a public spat in the White House in late February. Yet, the numbers don’t fully align with Trump’s rhetoric: the Center for Strategic & International Studies estimates total US aid at $174.2 billion, far below the $350 billion he has claimed.
For Ukraine, the stakes are existential. Accepting the deal could secure short-term survival but at the cost of long-term autonomy. Rejecting it risks losing US support, potentially forcing Kyiv to cede ground to Russia. As of now, no agreement has been signed, but pressure is mounting. On 31 March 2025, Trump warned Zelensky of "big problems" if he backs out, according to ZDFheute. With Putin tying any ceasefire to Russian gains in Kursk, as noted by morgenpost.de on 7 March 2025, Ukraine finds itself caught between two superpowers, its future hanging in the balance.

China Strikes Back: Tariff War

Spain: China's Gateway to Europe

Europe's Economic Self-Sabotage

Trump fails due to Russia's tough stance

Pope Francis: A Transformative Legacy

Portugal: Living Costs Soar

Is Australia’s Economy Doomed?

DOGE Fails to Slash U.S. Spending

Slovenia’s Economic Triumph

Next Generation EU a scam?

Can Poland Rescue Europe?
