GOP rep calls US-Ukraine resource deal 'victim extortion'

Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) said Sunday that forcing Ukraine to agree to a resource deal with the U.S. in exchange for the possibility of support against Russia is akin to “victim extortion.”

The moderate Republican said Russian President Vladimir Putin, who launched the invasion of Ukraine three years ago, should be the one forced to pay.

“Putin, and Putin alone, should bear the economic costs of Putin’s illegal and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine,” Fitzpatrick said in a post on the social platform X.

“To force Ukraine to pay these costs is the epitome of victim-blaming and victim extortion."

U.S. officials have been pushing a proposal wherein the U.S. would get half of any revenues from Ukraine's natural resources, as well as earnings from ports and other infrastructure, according to The New York Times. According to a draft of the deal, the U.S. would collect until a special fund reaches $500 billion.

In exchange, the U.S. would provide long-term support for Ukraine's reconstruction. However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has been pushing for security guarantees as well and has resisted the terms being pushed by President Trump.

Still, the Times reported Saturday that Ukraine was seriously considering a revised version of the deal.

The development comes after a week of escalating tensions between Zelensky and Trump, who has come under fire for appearing to side with Putin over the Ukrainian leader. Trump has claimed Zelensky started the war and called him a "dictator without elections." Zelensky then said Trump was living in a “web of disinformation.”

Some U.S. officials have cautioned Zelensky against provoking Trump. National security adviser Mike Waltz said Thursday that Zelensky needs to “tone it down and take a hard look and sign that deal.”

Fitzpatrick — one of three House Republicans elected in districts that former Vice President Kamala Harris won in the 2024 election — said earlier this week that Zelensky must not be forced to accept a deal that is struck by another country and that falls short of his demands.

“President Volodymyr Zelenskyy need not, and must not, have any deal forced upon him by any outside nation that does not guarantee the security and the sovereignty of the Ukrainian people,” Fitzpatrick wrote in a statement on X.

Rep. Jim Himes (D-Conn.) on Sunday compared the natural resources deal to something that might be offered by the mafia.

"It just looks like an episode of 'The Sopranos,' right? 'Give us your minerals or we're not gonna help you fight a bloody butcher,'" he said. "I mean, is this really what we want the greatest country in history to be known for — for some mafia thing?"

Topics

Ukraine working on new potential deal with US over mineral resources: Sources

A U.S. official with knowledge of the negotiations said a new version of the deal between the two countries has been put on the table.
ABC News - 2d
Ukraine to sign critical minerals deal ‘in the very short term’, US claims

National security adviser Mike Waltz tells conference that ‘economic partnership’ will be ‘good’ for Kyiv
Financial Times - 1d
US says revenue from minerals deal will fuel Ukraine’s postwar growth

Kyiv remains sceptical of plan as Treasury secretary Scott Bessent denies it is ‘coercive’ in FT opinion article
Financial Times - 8h
Bessent says US-Ukraine deal has 'implicit' economic security guarantee

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said a U.S.-Ukraine deal featuring “strategic minerals, energy and state-owned enterprises” has an “implicit” economic security guarantee. “This deal is part of ...
The Hill - 2h
The Memo: Trump’s jabs at Ukraine divide GOP

President Trump ratcheted up his attacks on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday, deepening the first real schism of his second term within the GOP. Appearing on the "Brian Kilmeade ...
The Hill - 1d
Trump calls Zelenskyy a "dictator" after blaming Ukraine for Russia's invasion

"A Dictator without Elections, Zelenskyy better move fast or he is not going to have a Country left," President Trump wrote.
CBS News - 3d
U.S. Objects to Calling Russia ‘Aggressor’ in G7 Statement on Ukraine Invasion

The American opposition to a draft of a Group of 7 statement marking the third anniversary of Russia’s attack on Ukraine comes after President Trump blamed Kyiv for starting the war.
The New York Times - 2d
Trump's Ukraine envoy calls Zelensky 'embattled and courageous leader'

President Trump's special envoy to Ukraine and Russia called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky an "embattled and courageous leader" after meetings in Kyiv on Friday, a notable shift from ...
The Hill - 2d
Ukraine should 'tone it down,' sign Trump mineral deal, Waltz says

National Security Adviser Mike Waltz said Thursday that officials in Kyiv "need to tone it down" after a fierce back and forth Trump and Zelenskyy.
ABC News - 3d