"Trump needs to send a competent envoy to Ukraine to understand why Ukrainians are so resistant to a quick ceasefire 'at any cost' and why cooperation with Kyiv aligns with U.S. interests. As soon as such an envoy arrives, I would advise him to head straight to the mine I recently visited near Pokrovsk, a city in eastern Donbas that has become one of the hottest war zones," writes Champion.
He points out that "Pokrovskugol" is the only enterprise in Ukraine extracting coking coal, which is a crucial component used in steel production that supports Ukraine's defense industry and will be vital for the country's recovery after the war.
"One of the three mines is located less than 7 km from the front line. If it ceases operations, Ukrainian metallurgical companies will be forced to import coking coal, which the European Union classifies as a critical raw material. The rising cost of coal will render approximately 50% of the current steel production in the country uncompetitive," the author notes.
He warns that a hasty "ceasefire" without analyzing the consequences, which may be urged by the White House, could lead to an even stronger Russia and its further expansion, as Ukraine possesses many valuable resources that should not be handed over to the Kremlin.
"Proposals coming from Washington, such as a ceasefire line under the control of European peacekeepers and Ukraine's commitment to refrain from NATO membership for 20 years in exchange for American weapons, contain elements that are underdeveloped and premature. Ukraine has natural gas deposits (with vast storage facilities), lithium, rare earth elements, titanium, and uranium, not to mention the coking coal in Pokrovsk. Given a settlement that guarantees real security, Ukraine could become a back office for the West and a route to shorten supply chains in the era of deglobalization," emphasizes the Bloomberg columnist.
This is why certain territorial issues should be discussed during any peace negotiations, he notes.
"The coking coal of Pokrovsk must remain under Ukraine's control. To improve the investment climate, Ukrainian seaports and the Dnieper River must also be protected from attacks and open for business," notes Tomas Fiala, CEO of Dragon Capital, Ukraine's largest investment bank. For this, Russian troops must leave Kinburn Spit. The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant also needs to be returned to Ukraine—both for security reasons and considering its 6 GW capacity," Bloomberg lists.
However, according to Fiala, the most important thing is that "the war must end, and there must be security guarantees that it will not be repeated in the near future." If this happens, Ukraine could find itself in a better position than before the war. It will have almost duty-free access to EU markets and a membership process that could transform both its economy and state."