«Donald Trump is a politician who aims to be number one. The alleged projects circulating at the moment are all based on granting something to Russia, but they are suggestions from Vladimir Putin. If Trump went after him, he would become number two. And I don’t think he can accept it.” Speaking to Repubblica is Mykhailo Podolyak, advisor to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who underlines – regarding the acceptance of a ceasefire in exchange for the concession of the occupied territories to Russia and immediate entry into NATO – that «a great talk about this hypothesis because it is assumed that Ukraine must necessarily concede something. Putin’s goals are the destruction of Ukraine and domination in Europe, so why would he accept the deal?”
«I don’t think that the attacked country should make concessions and stop resisting – specifies Podolyak -. We have been fighting for three years and now we should give up our sovereignty? Unfortunately I don’t see the same discussion about what Russia should give or pay. It’s a bit strange, isn’t it? We bring pragmatism to the negotiating table. We have developed military expertise and can offer Trump a partial replacement of American contingents in various regions, first of all in Europe. We also have deposits of rare minerals, such as lithium and titanium, that we can exploit together. The rational approach is to force Russia to accept appropriate conditions. Don’t ask or negotiate, but oblige.”
«The tools exist – continues the presidential advisor – and I’m not talking about the military ones but rather the control of the price of oil. The US has the means to transform the market and make it unfavorable to Russia. They can also issue economic sanctions that actually hit Moscow. In my opinion this will be Trump’s line, he is someone who can take drastic measures. If we also inflict blows on a military level, as is happening on a smaller scale, we will influence the Russian internal front. As for Kursk, we are solving the problems positively, eliminating the positions that launched attacks on Chenihiv and Sumy. The point is another, when we began the operation in the region, we expected to be authorized to use (Western, ed.) missiles and to have more weapons of this kind.” The Ukraine situation will be a tough nut to crack for future President Trump.
#Trump #concessions #Russia #Tempo
How does Ukraine plan to leverage its military capabilities and resources in future negotiations with Russia?
**Interview with Mykhailo Podolyak, Advisor to President Zelensky of Ukraine**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us, Mr. Podolyak. We recently heard about a potential U.S.-backed peace plan for Ukraine, which seems to suggest concessions to Russia. What are your thoughts on this?
**Mykhailo Podolyak:** Thank you for having me. I believe any notion of Ukraine conceding territory to Russia is misguided. We have been fighting for our sovereignty for three years now. Why should Ukraine, the attacked country, make concessions?
**Interviewer:** You mentioned earlier that there is a great deal of talk about Ukraine needing to give something up. Can you elaborate on why that’s concerning?
**Mykhailo Podolyak:** Absolutely. The narrative that Ukraine must concede to reach a ceasefire seems to ignore the fundamental issue: Putin’s goals are the destruction of Ukraine and dominance in Europe. Why should we believe he would accept any deal, especially if it means compromising our sovereignty? The focus should be on what Russia needs to concede, not Ukraine.
**Interviewer:** You highlighted that negotiations should involve pragmatism. How do you envision Ukraine’s approach in these discussions, especially with potential U.S. involvement under Trump?
**Mykhailo Podolyak:** Pragmatism is crucial. We have developed significant military expertise and can offer tactical support, potentially even replacing some American military contingents in Europe. Additionally, Ukraine is rich in resources, such as lithium and titanium, which could be leveraged for mutual benefit. The goal should be to compel Russia to accept appropriate terms, rather than negotiating from a position of concession.
**Interviewer:** Many observers are expressing doubt about the possibility of a viable peace plan under the current circumstances. What gives you hope for a resolution?
**Mykhailo Podolyak:** Hope comes from our resilience and the growing understanding that standing firm rather than yielding is essential. The more we can illustrate that resistance does not have to equate to endless conflict, the more pressure we can put on Russia to come to the table with genuine intentions. Ultimately, it is about ensuring the sovereignty and future of Ukraine, not just the cessation of hostilities.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Mr. Podolyak, for sharing your insights. It’s clear that the situation requires careful consideration and strong leadership.
**Mykhailo Podolyak:** Thank you for having me. The dialogue must continue. Ukraine’s sovereignty is non-negotiable.
