President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that, in his view, U.S. President Donald Trump could “very easily” bring Vladimir Putin to the negotiating table if he pressured the Russian leader rather than Ukraine.
The head of state made the remarks on The Diary Of A CEO podcast in response to a question about a realistic path to ending the Russian-Ukrainian war.
“Trump can bring Putin to the negotiating table very easily.”
Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine
According to Zelenskyy, Trump should use the same rhetoric toward Putin that he uses toward the Ukrainian president. At the same time, the Ukrainian leader said he did not know why the U.S. president was not applying such pressure.
Sanctions and speculation about Trump’s relationship with Putin
Zelenskyy recalled the “strong sanctions” that, he said, the U.S. Congress had voted for and that Trump could impose on Russia.
“I don’t know why [he is not imposing these restrictions]. Perhaps they [he and Putin] have a special relationship. Maybe it is something else. I cannot tell you. I do not know everything. I can only assume that it involves some kind of economic deals and so on.”
Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine
The president stressed that his statements about possible special relations or economic arrangements between Trump and Putin were his own assumptions.
The issue of energy prices
Zelenskyy was also asked whether Trump might be more concerned about energy prices in the United States than the situation in Ukraine, given the approaching midterm elections. In response, the Ukrainian president said he was “100% certain” that diesel prices do not depend on the volumes sold by Russia.
He also noted that U.S. private companies export energy resources abroad.
“This is interesting. Why do American companies export energy resources? Well, because how can the U.S. president ban private-sector exports? I think he cannot. And why would he do that? [Energy resources] are being sold, money is coming in… All secrets, all mysteries always come to light. It simply takes time. Time is undoubtedly on the side of those who are open and ready for honest dialogue and struggle. And that means time will be on our side.”
Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine
According to the report, on October 9, Trump announced an agreement with Putin on supplies of Russian diesel fuel to the U.S. and global markets. Following this, the United States temporarily eased sanctions restrictions on Russian diesel, while Russia lifted its export ban ahead of schedule.
The first tanker carrying 40,000 tonnes of Russian diesel fuel is expected to depart from Russia for the United States on October 22, according to the cited data. Zelenskyy’s sanctions policy commissioner, Vlasyuk, calculated that such a volume would be enough for approximately two hours of U.S. consumption.
