Trump may force Ukraine to accept Russia’s terms in exchange for a deal with the Kremlin in the Arctic

U.S. President Donald Trump may pressure Ukraine into accepting Russia’s terms in order to sign a multibillion-dollar economic agreement with the Kremlin on Arctic development.

This was reported by The Spectator.

According to the outlet, the Arctic region contains about 13% of the world’s undiscovered oil reserves and 30% of its natural gas, with nearly half of these resources under Russian control.

“An Arctic agreement between the U.S. and Russia could revive energy cooperation between the two countries on a breathtaking scale,” the article states.

Media reports have indicated that the United States and Russia are discussing the possibility of joint extraction of natural resources in the Arctic and cooperation on trade routes. The talks have included exploration of resources and shipping lanes, sources told Bloomberg.

One source said U.S. officials see Arctic cooperation as a way to drive a wedge between Moscow and Beijing, but warned this is unlikely to succeed given how much closer Russia and China have become in recent years.

The Arctic, where Russia borders seven NATO members — the U.S., Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden — has drawn increasing attention in recent years as melting ice from climate change opens shipping routes and opportunities for energy and mineral resource exploration.