«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 skills 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
What are Mykhailo Podolyak’s primary concerns regarding negotiations between the United States and Russia as articulated in his interview?
### Interview with Mykhailo Podolyak, Advisor to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us today, Mykhailo. You’ve made some strong statements regarding Donald Trump and his political ambitions. Can you elaborate on your concerns about potential deals involving Russia?
**Podolyak:** Absolutely. Donald Trump is a politician who aims to be number one, and currently, there are discussions circulating about concessions to Russia that appear to come from Vladimir Putin. If Trump were to pursue such a path actively, it would position him as number two in this geopolitical landscape. I don’t believe he can accept that.
**Interviewer:** You mentioned the idea of a ceasefire and territorial concessions. What are your thoughts on Ukraine possibly giving up occupied territories in exchange for entry into NATO?
**Podolyak:** There’s a lot of talk about this idea as if Ukraine must concede something. It overlooks the reality that Putin’s primary goal is the destruction of Ukraine and dominance in Europe. So, why would he accept such a deal? It’s vital that we frame this discussion accurately—why are we only contemplating what Ukraine should give rather than what Russia must relinquish?
**Interviewer:** Your points highlight a critical view of negotiating positions. What do you propose as a resolution instead?
**Podolyak:** I don’t think that the attacked country, which is Ukraine in this case, should make concessions. We’ve been fighting for three years, and the idea that we should surrender our sovereignty feels unjust. We must bring pragmatism to these discussions. Ukraine has developed significant military capabilities and has resources like lithium and titanium that we can leverage, particularly in cooperation with the United States.
**Interviewer:** So, you’re suggesting a stronger stance in negotiations?
**Podolyak:** Exactly. This means forcing Russia to accept proper conditions rather than waiting for negotiations to unfold in a way that implies we have to back down. We should not ask or negotiate—we should oblige. This is about ensuring Ukraine’s future and security, and we must stand firm in our resistance.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Mykhailo, for sharing your insights with us today.
**Podolyak:** Thank you for having me.
