“Shehu Sani Warns: Ukraine to Lose Land to Russia, $500bn Minerals to US Amid War Fallout”

A Costly Conflict
The ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia continues to have far-reaching consequences, with former Nigerian senator Shehu Sani warning that Ukraine stands to lose both territory and valuable natural resources. In a stark assessment, Sani highlighted the dual losses Ukraine faces: land to Russia and $500 billion worth of minerals to the United States. His comments come as the US and Ukraine finalize a controversial mineral deal, raising questions about the true cost of the conflict.

Shehu Sani’s Warning: Lessons for the World
Speaking on Wednesday, Shehu Sani urged nations considering war to learn from Ukraine’s plight. “Ukraine will lose its land to Russia and lose its $500 billion worth of minerals to the US,” he said. “My heart goes out to the families of those Ukrainians who lost their lives in that avoidable war. Nations that want to go to war should take lessons from this—that it’s now business.”

Sani’s remarks underscore the geopolitical and economic complexities of the conflict, which has drawn in global powers like the US and reshaped international alliances.

The US-Ukraine Mineral Deal: A Controversial Agreement
The US and Ukraine have reportedly agreed on the terms of a mineral deal, though details remain contentious. A top Ukrainian official described the deal as containing “a number of good amendments,” while reports suggest that a revised version has dropped a US demand to claim $500 billion in potential revenue from Ukrainian natural resources.

US President Donald Trump announced that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will travel to Washington, DC, to sign the agreement. When asked what Ukraine gains from the deal, Trump cryptically responded, “The right to fight on.”

Global Reactions: A Shifting Landscape
The war in Ukraine has prompted significant shifts in global politics and defense strategies. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer recently announced plans to increase defense spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027, citing the need to counter Russian aggression. “Russian leader Vladimir Putin’s aggression does not stop in Ukraine; we can’t hide from this,” Starmer said during a Downing Street news conference.

Meanwhile, tensions between the US and Ukraine have flared, with Trump calling Zelensky a “dictator” and Zelensky accusing Trump of living in a “disinformation space” created by Russia.

Why This Matters
Shehu Sani’s warning highlights the devastating consequences of war, not just in terms of human lives but also economic and territorial losses. The US-Ukraine mineral deal further complicates the situation, raising ethical questions about resource exploitation during times of conflict.

For nations considering military action, Ukraine’s experience serves as a cautionary tale of the high costs and unintended consequences of war.

A War with No Clear Winners
As the conflict in Ukraine drags on, the stakes continue to rise. While Russia seeks to expand its territory, and the US secures access to valuable resources, Ukraine finds itself caught in the middle, paying a heavy price for its resistance. Shehu Sani’s remarks remind us that in war, the losses often outweigh the gains—a lesson the world would do well to heed.