**New Natural Resource Proposal for Ukraine Sparks Controversy**

The proposed agreement, demanding significant resource revenue from Ukraine, has reignited debates on aid, autonomy, and geopolitical implications.

As Ukraine continues its negotiations amid ongoing hostilities, the Trump administration is advocating for the country to surrender half of its revenues from natural resources, including minerals, gas, and oil. Sources, including four current and former Ukrainian officials, have stated that the parameters of this new proposal mirror those that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky previously deemed too harsh. The proposal, dated February 21, indicates that these revenues would be allocated to a fund in which the United States holds complete financial control, requiring Ukraine to contribute until the fund reaches a staggering $500 billion—exceeding Ukraine's pre-war GDP by over two times.

Critically, the latest draft of this proposed agreement does not offer Ukraine any security guarantees in exchange for this extensive relinquishment of resources, a demand that President Zelensky has emphasized in prior discussions. The absence of this assurance has been a pivotal factor in Ukraine's cautious approach to the negotiations, as the persistent lack of clear support from the U.S. raises significant concerns regarding the country’s national security amidst ongoing military conflict.

Presently, Ukraine is deliberating on whether to move forward with the proposed deal, though indications suggest that Zelensky remains apprehensive about the implications of such an agreement. If a decision is reached, it could unfold within days. The situation highlights the fundamental tensions between international aid, national sovereignty, and resource control, with potential long-term effects on Ukraine's political and economic landscape as it continues to navigate its fraught relationship with the United States and the ground realities of the ongoing conflict.