The rare earth minerals deal between the United States and Ukraine will serve as a signal to Russian President Vladimir Putin that he won’t be able to defeat a “sovereign, independent European Ukraine,” former U.S. Ambassador to NATO Kurt Volker told Newsmax Sunday. 

“It gets the United States and Ukraine fully aligned,” Volker said on Newsmax’s “Sunday Report.” “We had earlier the U.S. and Ukraine call for a full, permanent cease-fire, recognizing that Russia is still going to occupy a lot of Ukraine, not legitimately, but at least end the fighting.

And now, with the deal, the two countries are aligned on wanting to develop resources, create a fund, and invest in Ukraine’s redevelopment and reconstruction, said Volker. 

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