Johnson supported the US-Ukraine minerals deal: It is extortion, but there are positive aspects
Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that the updated version of the agreement on US access to rare earth metals in Ukraine is more favorable to Kyiv. He compared it to the 1941 Lend-Lease.
Johnson said this at the Yalta European Strategy conference, Politico quoted him as saying, Censor.NET reported.
According to him, signing this document is the only way to move forward in ending the war.
He noted that he had seen an updated draft of the agreement, which now allegedly obliges the United States to support a free, sovereign, and secure Ukraine.
"I look at this document and see positive aspects for Ukraine. I think it contains the seeds of hope and progress," said the former British Prime Minister.
Boris Johnson drew parallels between the proposed US-Ukraine deal and the Lend-Lease program, a World War II-era program where the United States supplied weapons to its allies on long-term loans to fight Nazi Germany.
"Yes, on the one hand, it seems like extortion, but so did the lend-lease in 1941, didn't it? The Americans absolutely ripped us off," the British politician said.
Johnson acknowledged that it was difficult for the Ukrainian side to agree to the terms of the deal, but emphasized that it was a necessary step in relations with Washington.
"This agreement gives Trump the opportunity to tell his supporters that he has achieved results. But it also opens up prospects for Ukraine," he emphasized.
Later, the former British prime minister also said that the draft agreement did not include a clause on reimbursement of $500 billion, as the United States had initially demanded: "The Ukrainians negotiated quite well."
Minerals deal with the US
As a reminder, Trump has said he wants to sign a $500 billion deal with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on access to rare earth resources and natural gas in Ukraine in exchange for security guarantees in any potential peace settlement.
President Zelenskyy said that the agreement with the US on minerals would be signed at the ministerial level when ready and subject to guarantees. Currently, this document is not ready to protect Ukraine's interest.
Later, Trump said that Ukraine had derailed the rare earth metals deal. The agreement was needed so that the United States could recover the money spent on supporting Ukraine.
The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has handed over to Ukraine an "improved" draft of the minerals agreement that "complies with Ukrainian law."
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that if the US wants to see specific numbers in the minerals agreement, then according to Ukrainian law, ratification by the Verkhovna Rada will be required.
