«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 country under attack 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 does Mykhailo Podolyak view the role of the United States in supporting Ukraine’s sovereignty during negotiations?
**Interview with Mykhailo Podolyak, Advisor to President Zelensky**
*Editor:* Today, we are joined by Mykhailo Podolyak, who is the advisor to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Mykhailo, thank you for being here.
**Podolyak:** Thank you for having me.
*Editor:* You’ve recently spoken about Donald Trump’s position regarding Ukraine and Russia. Can you elaborate on your concerns about any possible concessions Ukraine might be pressured to make?
**Podolyak:** Certainly. The prevailing narrative is that Ukraine should concede territories to Russia in exchange for a ceasefire and NATO membership. However, this undermines the reality of the situation. Vladimir Putin’s aims are to destroy Ukraine and exert control over Europe. This makes any hypothetical deal extremely precarious for Ukraine, and frankly, it’s disappointing that discussions seem to center on what Ukraine should give up, rather than what Russia must relinquish.
*Editor:* You mentioned that Ukraine has been fighting for nearly three years. How do you see the country’s position evolving in negotiations, especially when it comes to sovereignty?
**Podolyak:** I don’t believe that a nation under attack should be expected to concede or stop resisting. Our sovereignty must be defended. It’s crucial to highlight that the discourse around concessions often ignores what Russia should sacrifice. Why should we be the ones to negotiate away our rights?
*Editor:* You also hinted at Ukraine’s potential contributions to a more strategic partnership with the United States. Could you elaborate on that?
**Podolyak:** Absolutely. We are ready to bring a pragmatic approach to the negotiating table. Ukraine has developed significant military expertise and can assist in the partial replacement of American contingents in Europe. Furthermore, we possess valuable resources like lithium and titanium, which offer further opportunities for cooperation. The objective should be to compel Russia to adhere to appropriate terms rather than simply asking for negotiations.
*Editor:* In your view, what steps need to be taken to ensure that any negotiations with Russia are fair and grounded in respect for Ukrainian sovereignty?
**Podolyak:** It starts with the understanding that we must not negotiate from a position of weakness. The negotiation framework should focus on consequences for aggression. We must initiate discussions where the priority is not what Ukraine should give, but rather what Russia must concede. This is about restoring balance and ensuring that sovereignty and peace are not sacrificed.
*Editor:* Thank you, Mykhailo. Your insights are invaluable in understanding the complex dynamics of this situation.
**Podolyak:** Thank you for having me. It’s important to keep the conversation going about Ukraine’s rights and the need for justice in this conflict.
