The United States has demanded control over a crucial natural gas pipeline in Ukraine that carries Russian gas to Europe, according to reports. This move, described as a “colonial shakedown,” comes amid escalating tensions in talks over a proposed minerals deal with Ukraine.
On Friday, U.S. and Ukrainian officials met to discuss a proposal from the White House. President Donald Trump reportedly wants Ukraine to hand over its natural resources as “payback” for weapons provided by the previous Biden administration. Sources close to the talks revealed that the latest U.S. draft is more aggressive than earlier proposals, which suggested a $500 billion trade involving rare metals, oil, and gas.
The most recent U.S. draft includes a demand that the U.S. government’s International Development Finance Corporation (IDFC) take control of the natural gas pipeline that runs from Sudzha in Russia to Uzhhorod in Ukraine, close to the EU border. Built during the Soviet era, the pipeline is a vital part of Ukraine’s infrastructure and a key energy route. However, Ukraine stopped the gas supply on January 1 when its contract with Russia’s state-owned Gazprom expired, despite both countries having earned millions in transit fees over the years.
Volodymyr Landa, a senior economist with Kyiv’s Center for Economic Strategy, criticized the U.S. demands as “colonial-type” bullying. He predicted Ukraine would reject such demands, which he said lacked any real chance of acceptance by Kyiv.
Last autumn, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy proposed granting the U.S. access to Ukraine’s underdeveloped mineral sector, envisioning a deal where the U.S. would supply weapons in exchange for future profits from joint investments. However, Trump has refused to offer security guarantees and instead demands the minerals outright.
Trump recently expressed frustration over Zelenskyy’s reluctance to sign an agreement, warning that Ukraine would face “big problems” if the deal wasn’t finalized. Zelenskyy, in turn, emphasized that Ukraine would only agree to terms if both sides reached “parity” in the deal, with a 50-50 split of revenues. He stressed that the deal should be mutually beneficial.
The U.S. Treasury confirmed that “technical” talks were ongoing, but the situation remains tense.
Meanwhile, U.S. special envoy Keith Kellogg clarified comments about a potential partition of Ukraine. Kellogg had previously suggested a partition similar to post-World War II Berlin as part of a peace agreement, but he later explained that he was referring to a “post-ceasefire resiliency force” to support Ukraine’s sovereignty. Under this proposal, Russian troops would remain in areas already seized by Moscow, while British and French forces would be stationed in Ukraine’s capital and other parts of the country.
On Friday, Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg. Witkoff reportedly suggested a solution to the conflict that would involve giving Russia control of four Ukrainian provinces, including areas currently under Ukrainian control.
In parallel, a meeting of Ukraine’s defense allies on Friday resulted in a record €21 billion in additional military support. However, tensions remain high, as Russia continues to resist a 30-day ceasefire that Ukraine has accepted. Since the U.S. proposed a ceasefire in March, Russia has launched over 70 missiles and 2,200 drones at Ukrainian targets.
On Saturday, Zelenskyy paid tribute to Captain Pavlo Ivanov, a 26-year-old pilot killed during an F-16 combat mission. Zelenskyy hailed Ukraine’s small but “heroic” air force, which continues to defend the country from Russian attacks.
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