International publisher in Paris
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that he hopes that the United States would « remain strong » in the face of Russian demands for lifting sanctions as a condition for the cessation of fire in the Black Sea.
Moscow said that a sea truce announced on Tuesday to allow the safe passage to trade vessels would only begin once the western restrictions on Russia’s food and fertilizer trade had increased.
Zelensky was talking during an interview with the group in Paris with journalists from all over Europe.
Asked by the BBC if the United States resisted Russian pressure, he said, « I hope. God bless, they will. But we’ll see it. »
The White House said on Tuesday that Russian and Ukrainian delegations had agreed to cease the fire to the Black Sea after three days of separate conversations with North -American officials in Saudi Arabia.
But hours later, Kremlin published his own statement including a list of conditions.
Their demands include revoke western sanctions in financial institutions Involved in agricultural trade and restore its access to the SWIFT international payment system: a network that facilitates safe financial messaging.
Trump said that the United States government was « looking » at Moscow’s request for restrictions to be lifted, but the EU said on Wednesday that it would not propose to eliminate sanctions before the « unconditional » withdrawal of Russian troops in the internationally recognized Ukraine territory.
Speaking to the Paris group, Zelensky said he was « very grateful » for the bipartisan support of the United States, but said he feared that some were « under the influence of Russian narratives. »
« We cannot agree with these narratives, » he said.
When asked if the President of the United States, Donald Trump, had a closer relationship with him or Russian President Vladimir Putin, Zelensky said he did not know.
« I don’t know, it’s hard to say, » he said. « I don’t know what relationships he has, I don’t know how many conversations he has had. »
The Ukrainian leader also asked about the comments of Trump Steve Witkoff, who rejected Europe’s efforts to create a « coalition of the will » to support Ukraine. In an interview last week.
In response, Zelensky said he would not « go » quickly to conclusions.
He said that Witkoff, who has a background in property development, did not « have this experience ».
« As far as I know, you know very well to buy and sell real estate, but this is a bit different, » he said.
He also said that Europe had been « significantly strengthened » during the war.
The BBC also asked Zelensky how to remember in history books: The man who saved Ukraine or the man who dropped it?
« I don’t know what the history books about me will write, » he said. « It’s not my purpose or goal. »
He said his goal was to defend Ukraine and see his children « walk through its streets without hiding. »
« I will do everything I can until the end of my days to defend Ukraine as much as I can, » he added.
As to whether Ukraine should be authorized to join NATO, Zelensky said that his « hardened » nation of the battle would make the alliance stronger, although he said that the Trump administration had ruled out Kiev’s membership.
The interview took place shortly after Zelensky met with the French president Emmaunuel Macron in Paris, where the Eiffel Tower has lit in the colors of the Ukrainian flag in his honor.
The President of Ukraine has returned to Europe to gather their allies and convince them to take Putin’s threat seriously.
They are now doing so, some could even say they sink to do it, but they have previously trusted in the North -Americans to make the heavy lifting in terms of military capacity.
After all that Trump has said in the last two months, Europeans realize that the North -Americans may not be there in the future, which has concentrated their minds.
President Zelensky’s challenge is to make hard cash commitments instead of only feelings.
His meeting with Macron has already shown fruitful, with the French president that he announced a new military aid pack of 2 million euros ($ 2.2 million; $ 1.6 million) for the a starting nation of war.
In reference to the Kremlin request to lift sanctions, Macron said that Moscow cannot « dictate conditions » for peace, adding that it was too early to raise the increase in European sanctions in Russia.
On Thursday, a meeting of European leaders in Paris is presented to discuss the war in Ukraine.
The « Willings coalition », which does not include the United States, is trying to form an agreement on the support that European support and other nations could offer to maintain a cessation of future fire, if it should be agreed.
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