Trump Wants Pipeline
The Trump administration is pressuring Ukraine to hand over control of a key natural gas pipeline as part of a larger minerals-for-weapons deal. This pipeline, built during the Soviet era, runs from Sudzha in western Russia to Uzhhorod, Ukraine, near the border with Slovakia. It used to be an important route for Russian gas flowing into Europe, but it has been sitting idle since January 1, 2025, after Ukraine’s contract with Russian energy company Gazprom expired.
As part of new negotiations, U.S. officials are pushing for control over not just the pipeline, but also Ukraine’s valuable mineral resources like rare earth metals, oil, and gas. The U.S. is framing this demand as “payback” for the military aid it provided to Ukraine during its war with Russia. One of the proposals would give the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (IDFC) control of the pipeline. Ukrainian officials have strongly rejected this idea, calling it “colonial extortion” and saying it goes way too far.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has pushed back against the U.S. demands, arguing that any deal should be fair and benefit both countries equally. He has suggested working together to modernize Ukraine’s infrastructure and splitting profits from natural resources 50-50. However, the current U.S. proposal does not include security guarantees for Ukraine, which remains a major concern for Kyiv since Russia still occupies about 20% of Ukrainian territory.
So far, the negotiations have been tense, with little sign of progress. Ukrainian leaders and economists have criticized the U.S. approach as overly aggressive and unlikely to succeed.
US wants control of key gas pipeline in Ukraine — Reuters
This seems to be an addition to the toughened-up new version of the minerals pact.
Trump wants to control if and when Russia pumps new gas to Europe. More importantly, get billions a year from Gazprom, to recoup cost. pic.twitter.com/Zgkhyn5D4m
— Alternative News (@AlternatNews) April 12, 2025
Psychological Warfare
Hamas released a propaganda video on Saturday, April 12, 2025, showing signs of life from Edan Alexander, a 21-year-old Israeli-American soldier held hostage for 551 days. Alexander was captured during Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack near the Gaza border, which resulted in over 1,200 deaths and the abduction of more than 250 hostages.
The undated three-minute video features Alexander stating his captivity duration and pleading for release. His family authorized the publication of a still image but requested Israeli media not to share the full video. In a statement coinciding with Passover celebrations, the family emphasized that the holiday cannot symbolize freedom while Alexander and 58 other hostages remain in captivity.
Israeli officials condemned the video as psychological warfare. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed solidarity with Alexander’s parents and assured them of ongoing efforts to secure his release. The video’s release follows unsuccessful U.S.-led negotiations with Hamas aimed at freeing Alexander, which had included direct talks and mediation by Qatar.
Alexander’s case highlights the broader hostage crisis amid the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas, with both sides maintaining firm stances on hostage exchanges and ceasefire terms.
The family of Edan Alexander, the Israeli-American held hostage in Gaza, has authorized the release of the heartbreaking proof of life video published by terrorists earlier today. pic.twitter.com/pYp8vttt8t
— Aviva Klompas (@AvivaKlompas) November 30, 2024
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