It’s becoming increasingly clear what Putin wants to offer Trump, says Vadim Denisенко.

Putin, rare earth metals, and Zaluzhny

After the meeting in Saudi Arabia, it has become 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 extraction business, creating a kind of intermediary similar to RosUkrEnergo, which would have access to the European market.

2. In fact, right-wing populists are needed by Trump, among other things, to lobby for this project, because the same CDU is having a serious discussion 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 that are already threatening the technological development of the Russian economy, not in the distant future, but right now.

4. It should be noted that the Kremlin has put in a lot of effort to prove to the West that it can fight indefinitely. And now there are already certain studies emerging, with more to come, stating that Russia's technological degradation is not a threat, as everything they need is coming into Russia through gray imports. However, this is only partly true, and the Russian economy is on the brink of technological degradation, no matter what anyone writes. But the main point is that these studies aim to create a singular mindset among Western politicians: whether you fight or not, it does not harm Russia. This is what right-wing populists are already capitalizing on.

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 offer. Or perhaps the Americans demanded more, and the Russians chose to agree to that as well. It is also significant that the Russians have already stated they are ready to abandon calculations for energy resources in rubles and are prepared to transact in dollars.

6. It is important to highlight that the fate of this agreement depends on Brussels (and several 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 trading opportunities. I will reiterate 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 prepared for this).

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

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

– We cannot agree to a reduction of our defense industry.

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

– We do not recognize the 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 to support any specific candidate.