"Security agreements for Ukraine are only obliquely referenced.

However, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said, "This agreement is directly tied to security guarantees. Neither the President of Ukraine nor the Ukrainian government will consider or sign this agreement separately from Ukraine's security guarantee."

If so, then we are not in Kansas anymore. Trump's global approach to defending democracy is radically different from past administrations. It is becoming transactional " a "what's-in-it-for-me" foreign policy.

The U.S., seemingly, is in the business of franchising democracy, and it is now charging franchise fees to allies.

Self-interest, in this case Trump's America First agenda, has become the driving force. The U.S. is no longer a "reluctant sheriff," but rather a loan shark or hired hand " a mercenary power."

"Is A Mutiny Possible? Russia's Z-Community Is Outraged At Putin For Making A Deal With America!

Russia's Z-Community is in an uproar after Putin's latest shocking deal with America! In this video, we dive into the details of the agreement that has sparked outrage among Russia's Z-Community, a group known for their unwavering support of Putin. W

hat does this deal mean for Russia's future, for the war and why are Putin's most loyal supporters turning against him?"

INSIDE RUSSIA

Zekensky may have pulled off the Big Con on Trump this time, and that would be hilarious if true:

"7:01 PM EST, Thu February 27, 2025

Trump's promise of very big deal' with Zelensky undercut by officials' widespread doubts over Ukraine's resources

President Donald Trump's claim that the potential "trillion-dollar deal" he is on the cusp of signing with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky would offer the US easy access to a bonanza of rare earth minerals is at odds with the widespread assessment of current and former US officials who say there's little actual evidence of great rare earth and other mineral wealth in Ukraine and much of what does exist will be difficult, even impossible, to exploit in the eastern war-torn part of the country.

The agreement expected to be signed Friday at the White House could be seen as a coup for an embattled Zelensky, who is giving Trump a deal he can trumpet at a time that US support is faltering.

"It's an important political undertaking that binds the two countries together," a senior US official said. "The deal is bigger than subsoil. And it's politically important for the Ukrainians at this juncture."

;

"From Zelensky's perspective what else can he offer the US or the West?" asked the second senior Biden administration official. "They correctly gauged this would be something that would pique the interest of the Trump team."

"There's nothing wrong with the US doing a deal," the former official said. "I just don't think there's all that much too it."

In addition to the uncertainty and impracticality of extracting Ukraine's minerals, the Biden administration didn't pursue it because, according to a third Biden official, it felt "very colonial."

excerpts, more at the link

- FDR charged

I see you still have that awful Whataboutism Tourette Syndrome problem that stops you from ever forming an actual Retort that's on Topic.

It was congenital, apparently. Perhaps a second lobotomy would help.