It is becoming increasingly clear that Putin has something to propose to Trump.

Putin, rare earth metals, and Zaluzhny

Following the meeting in Saudi Arabia, it is becoming increasingly clear that Putin wants to propose to Trump the creation of RosUkrEnergo in reverse.

1. It seems that Putin's idea is as follows: Americans enter the Russian mining business, creating a sort of intermediary like RosUkrEnergo, aimed at the European market.

2. In fact, right-wing populists are needed by Trump, among other things, to lobby for this project, because the CDU is engaged in serious discussions about how Merkel's policies have led to a crisis in the German economy.

3. Russians need to initiate this process as it marks the beginning of lifting sanctions, which are already jeopardizing the technological development of the Russian economy not in the distant future, but right now.

4. It is worth noting that the Kremlin has made significant efforts to prove to the West that it can wage war indefinitely. And now, certain studies have emerged, with more to come, suggesting that technological degradation in Russia is not a threat, as everything they need is coming through grey imports. However, this is only partially true; the Russian economy is on the brink of technological degradation, regardless of what anyone writes. The more critical point is that these studies lead Western politicians to believe one thing: whether you fight or not, it does not harm Russia. This is what right-wing populists are already exploiting.

5. Returning to RosUkrEnergo-2, it appears that the U.S. neither said "yes" nor "no," and Putin decided to make an even more enticing proposal. Alternatively, the Americans may have demanded more, and the Russians agreed to that as well. It is significant that the Russians have already stated their willingness to abandon calculations for energy resources in rubles and are ready to transact in dollars.

6. It is important to note that the fate of this agreement depends on Brussels (and a number of EU capitals). We can reasonably assume that, with certain limitations, this agreement will be approved by the EU.

7. For us, this is not just a bad signal; it also opens up the possibility for trade. I will repeat what I have been saying for many months: our goal in these negotiations is not to determine Trump’s fate, but to achieve our demands. Let me repeat them:

- We must be within the EU's security perimeter (and the EU is ready for this).

- We cannot agree to a neutral status (this is not about NATO, which no one is inviting us into, but about other potential military-political alliances);

- We cannot agree to a sharp reduction in the maximum number of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

- We cannot agree to the reduction of our defense industry.

- We must have a signed plan for 5-7 years for the supply of certain types of weapons to us;

- We do not recognize annexed territories as Russian.

And finally, regarding Zaluzhny. The Russians do not have their own candidate in the upcoming elections in Ukraine. Their goal is to create chaos in our politics, rather than support a particular candidate.