The mineral rights of Ukraine to pay back America.

0:00 Speaker 1 Sunday Morning with us today is former Governor George Pataki, and he has a few things to say about what’s going on in a state and what’s going on with Ukraine with the mineral deal. Governor of Pataki, what say you.

0:17 Speaker 2 Today, Hey, John? Nice being on with you. Well, you know, I think that Zelensky and Trump sitting down at the Vatican for the Pope’s funeral could prove to be a very important turning point. It seems like they had a good discussion and then just as you know, just earlier this week, they reached an agreement on the mineral deal.

0:38 I think that is very important because it gives the United States a direct economic stake in Ukraine’s security. We need the rare earth minerals state largely come from China, and we’re in a trade war with China, so who knows that they will ever allow us to get them again.

0:57 So having an alternative is important, and having in Ukraine, I think is very important because it then is the United States a personal interest, a national interest in making sure that Russia does not conquer Ukraine.

1:11 Speaker 1 Oh, I think that’s I don’t think Russia will ever be able to step into the Ukraine if those are the asces of the United States government.

1:21 Speaker 2 Yeah, I think you’re right. But first, I don’t think they’d ever conquered Ukraine period. I’ve been there since the war six times, and the Ukrainian people they’re suffering enormously, but they’re never going to give up. This is a their country and they’re going to fight to the end.

1:35 And hopefully it doesn’t come to that and we can have a peace. But I think you’re right. You know, Russia is going to take a look and see is it really in their interest to advance it to areas where the United States has active investment, and I think they’ll say no. The problem, John, is that I don’t

1:54 see US companies going over until there’s a piece down. So it’s kind of a little like a chicken in the egg. We have to have the peacedale first, and then the US companies will work with the Ukrainians to develop those mineral assets. So the key still is to try to make a peacedale, and John, I’ll tell you

2:13 I’m a little more optimistic on that. It’s clear Putin doesn’t want peace, But Trump announced that he’s going to sell the next trunch of weapons to Ukraine. That’s a very big change from where he was, where he wasn’t allowing any US weapons to go to Ukraine. And that sends the signal. And Lindsey Graham is leading a fight

2:35 in Congress to dramatically increase the economic sanctions on Putent and on Russia. So if we turn up the economic pressure on Russia, if we provide weapons to Ukraine, and in this case we’re not giving them to them, they are buying us using those mineral rights as part of the payment, then Putin may take another look and say, hey,

2:59 this is gonna hurt us even more, and maybe I should sit down and negotiate seriously at peacedale. That’s at least my hope.

3:07 Speaker 1 It makes common sense. We mean, you we both live in New York State. Is there any progress on what’s been going on with the budget and what’s been going on with keeping people safe?

3:19 Speaker 2 You know they’re close on the budget, but it’s not done yet. It should be done early this week coming up, you hope. But on the safety part, I gave Governor Hocal credit. She got two reforms. One is undoing Cuomo’s idiotic discovery restrictions that were allowing obviously guilty criminals to get off on a loophole, and Governor Hokeel got that changed.

3:45 And the second is the mentally ill homeless out on the street, attacking people, threatening people, killing people in the subways. They got a reform on that too, So she deserves credit for both of those things. On the other hand, the budget increases spending massively. New York already spends far too much. We should be spending less, not more, and

4:07 they’re going to spend a lot more. I think it’s like sixteen or seventeen billion dollars more than this year, and we just can’t afford it. And there’s also a tax increase. And the last thing we need in New York is another tax increase on people who create jobs, on businesses. John, you and I are both here because

4:27 we love this state. We both have dozens and dozens of friends who live in Florida because they were fed up with the taxes. We have to cut state spending, we have to lower the tax burden, and sadly, this budget does the opposite.

4:43 Speaker 1 I can’t believe the numbers compared to when you were governor or when I was running FA mayor in twenty thirteen. Well, Governor let’s keep an eyes on what’s going on, and maybe Thomas sense will prevail one of these days.

4:59 Speaker 2 That’s the hope. That’s what you always argue for, John, common sense, and let’s hope it does prevail.

5:04 Speaker 1 Look forward to seeing you soon.

5:06 Speaker 2 Thank you, take care of John, Thank you,