«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 does Mykhailo Podolyak envision Ukraine’s role in military collaboration and economic partnerships with a Trump administration?
**Interview with Mykhailo Podolyak, Advisor to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky**
**Editor:** Thank you for joining us today, Mykhailo. With Donald Trump’s recent win and the potential shifts in U.S. foreign policy, what are your main concerns for Ukraine?
**Podolyak:** Thank you for having me. My primary concern is that there seems to be ongoing discussions suggesting that Ukraine might need to make concessions, such as ceding occupied territories to Russia for the sake of a ceasefire. However, we must remember that these are proposals coming from Vladimir Putin’s perspective, which aims at undermining Ukrainian sovereignty and dominating Europe.
**Editor:** You mentioned the importance of Ukraine not conceding anything. Can you expand on that?
**Podolyak:** Absolutely. We have been fighting for our sovereignty for three years. The notion that we should now be expected to surrender any part of our territory is unacceptable. The discourse often focuses on what Ukraine should give up, while there’s hardly any talk about what Russia should concede or be held accountable for. This imbalance is troubling and must be addressed.
**Editor:** What do you think is a more pragmatic approach to negotiations?
**Podolyak:** What we need is a rational approach where we shift the focus onto Russia’s obligations. We should not merely negotiate for the sake of negotiation but should instead compel Russia to accept reasonable conditions for peace. We are ready to be pragmatic; we can offer military expertise and collaboration on resources such as our rare minerals to provide value to the U.S. and its alliances.
**Editor:** Considering the changing dynamics, what opportunities do you see for Ukraine under a Trump administration?
**Podolyak:** There could be significant opportunities, particularly with regard to military collaboration and economic partnerships. We can contribute to the security of Europe by potentially replacing some American contingents in various areas. Additionally, we have valuable natural resources that could enhance U.S. strategic interests. However, it’s paramount that we ensure our sovereignty is respected in these arrangements.
**Editor:** Thank you, Mykhailo, for sharing your insights. Your perspective on these shifting geopolitical landscapes is invaluable as we look toward the future.
**Podolyak:** Thank you for the opportunity to speak. It’s crucial that discussions about Ukraine remain focused on justice and sovereignty, not appeasement.