«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 deal is being made 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 am 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 can Ukraine strategically position itself to ensure its sovereignty in future peace talks?
**Interview with Mykhailo Podolyak, Advisor to President Zelensky**
**Interviewer:** Good afternoon, Mr. Podolyak. Thank you for joining us. Recently, President Zelensky suggested that the war in Ukraine might end faster under a Trump presidency. What are your thoughts on this statement?
**Podolyak:** Good afternoon. Yes, President Zelensky’s comment reflects a belief that a change in U.S. leadership could influence peace negotiations. However, we must consider the implications of any proposed deals with Russia. Historically, such negotiations have often posed challenges for Ukraine.
**Interviewer:** You mentioned negotiations. There has been talk about a potential ceasefire in exchange for conceding occupied territories to Russia. Do you believe this is a viable option?
**Podolyak:** I don’t believe that an attacked country should make concessions, especially after so many years of conflict. Our sovereignty is at stake, and it would be unjust to expect Ukraine to give up its territory while ignoring what Russia should be held accountable for.
**Interviewer:** That’s a strong stance. Can you elaborate on what you feel Russia should concede in any potential deal?
**Podolyak:** There seems to be an unfair focus on what Ukraine must sacrifice. Discussions should also include what Russia should relinquish. Our military experience shows that we can confront Putin’s aggressive aims with pragmatism, and we think the pressure should be on Russia to meet our conditions instead.
**Interviewer:** You mentioned the pragmatic approach. What specific solutions do you envision that could facilitate negotiations with a future U.S. administration?
**Podolyak:** We can offer various forms of cooperation, such as providing a partial replacement for U.S. military contingents in Europe and leveraging our valuable natural resources, like lithium and titanium. This offers not just military but also economic avenues for collaboration that benefit both Ukraine and the United States.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Mr. Podolyak. It seems clear that Ukraine is advocating for a strong and viable position in any future discussions surrounding the conflict.
**Podolyak:** Absolutely. It is essential for us to not only defend our borders but also ensure that any talks honor our sovereignty and long-term stability in the region. Thank you for having me.