«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
What are Mykhailo Podolyak’s primary concerns regarding concessions in the peace negotiations with Russia?
### Interview with Mykhailo Podolyak, Advisor to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky
**Editor:** Thank you for joining us today, Mykhailo. Let’s start with the current discussions surrounding potential peace talks. You recently expressed skepticism about the idea that Ukraine should concede territories to Russia. Can you elaborate on that?
**Podolyak:** Certainly. I believe that it is crucial for us to understand that negotiations should not be based on Ukraine making concessions. We have been defending our sovereignty for three years now. The prevailing narrative that Ukraine must concede in order to reach a ceasefire is problematic. Vladimir Putin’s ultimate goal is the destruction of Ukraine and domination over Europe. Why would we expect him to agree to any deal that undermines his ambitions?
**Editor:** You mentioned Donald Trump specifically in relation to these negotiations. What are your thoughts on his position regarding Ukraine and Russia?
**Podolyak:** Trump is a politician who clearly aspires to be at the top. Current discussions that suggest giving concessions to Russia seem to come primarily from suggestions attributed to Putin. If Trump were to engage in negotiations where he appeared to submit to Putin, he risks becoming secondary on the world stage, and I doubt that he would be comfortable with that.
**Editor:** So what do you believe is a more effective approach for Ukraine in these negotiations?
**Podolyak:** We should bring pragmatism to the table. Rather than accepting demands or negotiating from a position of weakness, we must assert ourselves. We have unique military expertise and can even offer replacements for American contingents in various regions, particularly in Europe. Additionally, Ukraine possesses valuable resources like lithium and titanium, which we can explore together. Therefore, our approach should be to compel Russia to accept terms that are acceptable to Ukraine, rather than simply asking for concessions.
**Editor:** You’ve mentioned the need for a rational approach in dealing with Russia. What does that entail?
**Podolyak:** It entails recognizing that the narrative often focuses on what Ukraine needs to give up, whereas there is little discussion about what Russia should concede. We need to shift that conversation. Our objective should be to force Russia into a position where it must accept appropriate terms that respect Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. It’s vital to consolidate our strength and make it clear that Ukraine will not back down.
**Editor:** Thank you, Mykhailo, for sharing your insights with us today. Your perspective is invaluable as we navigate these complex geopolitical issues.
**Podolyak:** Thank you for having me. It’s essential to keep the dialog going about our fight for sovereignty and the importance of a just resolution.
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This interview illustrates Mykhailo Podolyak’s firm stance on Ukraine’s sovereignty and the need for a strategic approach in negotiations with Russia, particularly in light of ongoing conversations involving global leaders like Donald Trump.
