Liudmyla Shestakova has lost a lot to this war — her son, and his wife, who died together on the front lines. But she’s a realist, like many in this mining region in central Ukraine. And ever since President Trump suggested it, she has thought that her country should sign a proposed deal that would give America some profits from mining in Ukraine.

Ms. Shestakova, 65, who works with an environmental group called Flora in the city of Kropyvnytskyi, had hoped a deal between the U.S. and Ukraine on critical minerals could bring much-needed investment to the region.

But on Friday night, Ms. Shestakova, like many people in Ukraine, was shocked and blindsided at how the deal fell apart and how she felt that President Trump treated Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky, almost like a serf who didn’t bow and kiss the ring quite enough.

“With a trustworthy partner, this could have been a beneficial deal for everyone,” said Ms. Shestakova, who once ran Flora and now sits on its supervisory board. “But with a partner like Trump, it could actually be dangerous.”

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  • breakfastmtn@lemmy.caOP
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    3 months ago

    Bitchin’ bonus quote:

    “It will be hard, but we will survive,” said Iryna Tsilyk, 42, a poet and film director in the capital, Kyiv, whose husband serves in the army. “Today, I was not ashamed of my president and my country. I am not sure that the Americans can say the same.”

    • assembly@lemmy.world
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      3 months ago

      I am absolutely disgusted at Trump. I thought his past actions had set the bar low enough to not surprise me anymore but damn, they hit rock bottom and started digging.

        • gl4d10@lemmy.world
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          3 months ago

          gods, i miss sarah palin, simpler times, i think about jeb bush and sunday funday, i’m gonna splurge on some avocados so they’re ready for the big event and i just hope that i have enough advance notice to turn on “Rock You Like a Hurricane”

    • PugJesus@lemmy.world
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      3 months ago

      I am ashamed of my president and my country. But I am proud of Ukraine. May they stay strong.