«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
What are Mykhailo Podolyak’s views on potential concessions Ukraine might have to make under a new U.S. administration?
**Interview with Mykhailo Podolyak, Advisor to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us today, Mr. Podolyak. There are rising concerns regarding how a potential Trump presidency might impact the ongoing war in Ukraine. Some believe he may advocate for concessions from Ukraine. What is your perspective on that?
**Mykhailo Podolyak:** Thank you for having me. I think it’s essential to understand that the suggestions being circulated, especially those indicating that Ukraine might have to concede territory to achieve peace, are fundamentally flawed. Russia’s objective has always been the destruction of Ukraine and expanding its influence across Europe. Under such circumstances, why would we give anything up?
**Interviewer:** You mentioned that any discussions about a ceasefire often overlook what Russia might concede. Can you elaborate on that?
**Mykhailo Podolyak:** Absolutely. It’s perplexing that discussions center around what Ukraine should forfeit, while there is little emphasis on the concessions that Russia must make. After three years of relentless aggression, we will not give up our sovereignty. We deserve and demand respect for our rights and territorial integrity.
**Interviewer:** Some speculate that Trump might offer military support or even establish partnerships with Ukraine. What would be the best way for Ukraine to approach such offers?
**Mykhailo Podolyak:** We are open to pragmatic partnerships. For example, we can support the U.S. by partially replacing American military contingents in Europe and sharing our resources, like rare minerals. It’s all about leveraging our expertise and resources effectively while insisting on appropriate conditions for peace—Russian accountability must be part of the conversation.
**Interviewer:** Thank you for sharing your insights, Mr. Podolyak. The situation remains complex, and it will be interesting to see how international relations evolve in light of the upcoming elections.
**Mykhailo Podolyak:** Thank you for having me. As always, Ukraine stands firm in its pursuit of sovereignty and peace.
