NATO limits and economic aid: U.S. stance on Ukraine revealed

In an interview with CNBC, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent dismissed the possibility of offering Ukraine U.S. security guarantees. He stressed that NATO and the U.S. military begin at the Polish border. He pointed out that Ukraine should accept that its security guarantees will come from Europe.

In the discussion, Bessent criticised Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for his persistent attempts to secure American support.

He suggested that the speaker had fallen into a repetitive pattern, continuously emphasizing the phrase "security guarantee."

Bessent also addressed the agreement on a partnership to exploit Ukraine's natural resources, stressing that it is not a "predatory" action.

The U.S. Treasury Secretary highlighted that the agreement should not be confused with a predatory Chinese deal. She clarified that it does not provide the U.S. with any rights to the minerals or similar concessions, describing it as a purely economic development arrangement.

He emphasised the goal of supporting Ukrainians in achieving economic success, noting that when the Iron Curtain fell, Poland and Ukraine had economies of similar size. However, Poland's economy has grown to be three and a half to four times larger. He also pointed out that Ukrainian oligarchs, who often concentrate wealth among themselves, are unlikely to welcome this agreement. The priority, he stressed, is to ensure that financial benefits reach the Ukrainian people.

The initial versions of the agreement proposed creating a fund managed by the U.S., which would receive 50% of the revenues from Ukrainian natural resources, until it reached €459 billion. Later reports suggest that the fund will be jointly managed, with resources allocated for rebuilding and developing Ukraine's economy.