Is U.S. support for Ukraine really about democracy, or is it about dollars? J D Vance made the agenda clear in a statement on Monday, suggesting that economic leverage, not diplomacy, has been the real driving force behind U.S.-Ukraine negotiations. Days after a tense Oval Office meeting between the leaders of the US and Ukraine, the US Vice President made it clear — America would support Ukraine only if it had a financial stake in the country. His statement, which came just before the Biden administration announced a freeze on all U.S. military aid to Ukraine, has sparked intense global scrutiny. Adding to the intrigue, reports indicate that Donald Trump has been pushing for a rare earth minerals deal with Ukraine as payback for past U.S. assistance. With billions in aid at stake, was this the real motive all along?