Trump’s next move is simple: appoint Elon Musk to solve Ukraine.
Humans form alliances to feel safer. To feel more connected. To accomplish more. And Trump’s cabinet members are allied to the president with the expectation of near-term results.
“Sign this Ukraine minerals deal in an hour.”
“End the Russia-Ukraine war in 24 hours.”
“$2 trillion in spending cuts within 12 months.”
These are astonishing near-term ambitions. These attempts mask nothing – do a deal right now.
The problem is simple
People are different. They’re driven by different things. While in the business world a $100 million individual package, or a $100 billion acquisition might have resulted in success for Trump and treasury secretary Scott Bessent in their pasts, the broader markets could care less (see market crash risk right now). After years of war, President Zelensky is likely driven by a completely different calculus.
He has pride in his people and his country. What may be important to Zelensky is lasting peace.
Lasting is the key word here.
Deal makers, by design, want to worry less about the operational outcome in the next 10-20 years. The deal, the transaction – that in itself is the outcome for a banker. A trader looking to make short term profits is no different. The next 5-10 year trajectory could matter less if the stock pops in the next 3 months. But that may not be President Zelensky.
However, patience is a virtue, especially when it comes to building and creating $ trillions in wealth for a company or a country, as we show with overwhelming data.
So what’s the alternative?
Make Musk Responsible: Make a Deal
So what’s a good deal’s blueprint? Give Ukraine a lot now, and ask for a ton more in the future. That’s what strong people – and countries – do.
Give Ukraine long-term peace commitment – it’s a good thing. Tell Zelensky we want it as well, because it’s good for us too. Indeed, then ask for a lot in return. Ask the Ukrainians to work twice as hard in peace as they did in war. Doing what? Working to build a modern country from rubble. Reconstructing. Ask for commitments for post peace collaboration – collaboration in building communities, cities, and airports. Minerals could just be one part of the story. Get commitments to build – and indeed share rights to – smart supply chains, roads, commercial centers, education hubs, entertainment, a healthcare system, the works. Build and empower technology hubs to manage it all.
Musk can do it, give him the responsibility. He might even forget cost-cutting and DOGE if presented with an alternative to build something cool instead. He loves a good challenge. A country is no easy feat. Maybe Ukraine can be Musk’s launchpad, a testing ground for building whatever he wants to build on Mars. If he can’t build Ukraine, he sure can’t build Mars. Musk will like the challenge.
The point is simple: Minerals are a start – but don’t stop there
Create empowered citizens. Ask for a seat at the table, and export technology, infrastructure and everything in the middle. Whatever is needed. Indeed, create a trade surplus by creating a marketplace first. Build an efficient tax system – a modern society.
Will it be easy? Of course not. The thing is, it isn’t everyday that you get to build something from the ground up. Best case: you’ll have built a strong friend; your own power center; an extension of the greatness that is America, right next to Russia. Worst case: you would have tried to build something that’s amazing, and then handed the baton to the next in line. Either way, an incredible start. So incredible, that for a change President Trump won’t need to boast about it. Others will.
Have imagination. Have a long view.
Do a deal for generations, not just for bragging rights or a Nobel peace prize.
Or, else?
President Trump will get frustrated if deals don’t happen. His cabinet members will take the heat. Of course it’ll be their fault if things don’t work. There will be a fallout. Many will be fired – with a simple message on X or Truth Social. Remember Trump 1.0?
If things work, needless to say, it was President Trump’s doing all along.
But Trump 2.0 is different. Of course it should be different. It’s human to err – and equally human to learn from those errors. Trump has learned. He’s bolder. More powerful. Now he needs to be more long-term greedy. One that proves all predictions wrong.
But that might not be President Trump’s agenda. He prefers deal making. We hope it’s of the right kind.