I'm not sure I agree that such an absurd plan is necessarily bad for Ukraine. It could well be that they do well selling minerals for batteries and solar energy. Unleased compelled to, the reason they would be selling it is that the prices would be artificially high due to subsidies and to taxes and restrictions on the alternatives.
As long as the Ukrainian government doesn't make their own citizens do the same thing, the country could do quite well. It is the other European consumers and taxpayers who are getting screwed.
I follow https://grahamseibert.substack.com/ who managed to find a second life in Kiev. Not particularly focused on UA politics but more on life a bit outside of the city.
My read is that Zelensky has systematically purged many of the oligarchs. Many had ties to Russia so their assets have been confiscated. In a way the Ukrainian gangs and the Russian gangs have been decimated as a product of the war. I'm sure Zelensky has maintained good relationships with his sponsors in the process. OTOH, I see he has the opportunity to clean up the place and is doing so. With the war he has become an independent man, or so it might seem. In terms of his owning loads of stuff, he was fairly rich pre-war as a result of his TV talent.
Regarding the WEF, Zelensky is likely to play their silly game. I suspect he sees a new future for Ukraine post-war where most of the young don't leave. That requires some high tech promises and industry. I'm sure he will milk resources wherever he can to achieve a newer vision. Once Putin is sent packing, a lot will be needed to rebuild. The army of consultants will arrive to get their piece.
On a related point, you might get something out of this article in The TransAtlantic. How does a certain lecture from the Post on Russian imperialism through western words contrast with the material imperialism of US/EU capital?
I'm not sure I agree that such an absurd plan is necessarily bad for Ukraine. It could well be that they do well selling minerals for batteries and solar energy. Unleased compelled to, the reason they would be selling it is that the prices would be artificially high due to subsidies and to taxes and restrictions on the alternatives.
As long as the Ukrainian government doesn't make their own citizens do the same thing, the country could do quite well. It is the other European consumers and taxpayers who are getting screwed.
I follow https://grahamseibert.substack.com/ who managed to find a second life in Kiev. Not particularly focused on UA politics but more on life a bit outside of the city.
My read is that Zelensky has systematically purged many of the oligarchs. Many had ties to Russia so their assets have been confiscated. In a way the Ukrainian gangs and the Russian gangs have been decimated as a product of the war. I'm sure Zelensky has maintained good relationships with his sponsors in the process. OTOH, I see he has the opportunity to clean up the place and is doing so. With the war he has become an independent man, or so it might seem. In terms of his owning loads of stuff, he was fairly rich pre-war as a result of his TV talent.
Regarding the WEF, Zelensky is likely to play their silly game. I suspect he sees a new future for Ukraine post-war where most of the young don't leave. That requires some high tech promises and industry. I'm sure he will milk resources wherever he can to achieve a newer vision. Once Putin is sent packing, a lot will be needed to rebuild. The army of consultants will arrive to get their piece.
On a related point, you might get something out of this article in The TransAtlantic. How does a certain lecture from the Post on Russian imperialism through western words contrast with the material imperialism of US/EU capital?
https://open.substack.com/pub/thetransatlantic/p/kiev-to-kyiv-the-word-wars-western?utm_source=direct&r=21pn59&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web