Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he had spoken of air defense systems and sanctions against Russia with Donald Trump on the sidelines of Pope Francis funeral on April 26 in Rome, on the occasion of what he described as his best meeting with his American counterpart.
In comments published by his services, he also said that Donald Trump and himself agreed that a 30-day ceasefire between Kyiv and Moscow was the first step in order to end the war in Ukraine.
Volodymyr Zelensky added that he had tackled the subject of sanctions with the American president, evoking a “very strong” response from Donald Trump on this subject, without further details.
He also said that the Ukrainian natural resources agreement signed by the two countries Wednesday was mutually beneficial to them and that it would allow Ukraine to defend future American investments, as well as its own territory and its population.
This framework, of which Donald Trump has promoted, will give the United States preferential access to the new agreements on Ukrainian minerals and will be in favor of American investments in the reconstruction of Ukraine.
Volodymyr Zelensky said that the money paid in the agreement would be reinvested and would not leave Ukraine, at least at first.
The agreement aims to create a fund to manage investments and keep the profits generated. The Ukrainian president said that the project’s supervisory board, which would choose its director, would be composed of Ukrainian and American representatives.
Regarding the security component of the agreement, Volodymyr Zelensky stressed the importance of a more efficient air defense, which is one of the main Kyiv demands to its allies since the Russian invasion in early 2022.
“These things are not free”
“We are therefore ready for air defense systems to be a contribution. I told him about the number (of systems we need) – he told me that they would work there, (that) these things are not free,” said the Ukrainian president.
According to Volodymyr Zelensky, $ 30 billion in military aid to Ukraine allocated in 2024 by the US Congress were to be paid in 2025 and 2026, at the rate of $ 15 billion per year.
His comments raise questions about the procedures for aid for 2026, which could be recorded in the American contribution to the fund provided for in the mineral agreement.
“Ukraine will then restore its half gradually, and this is the subject of the agreement,” said Volodymyr Zelensky. “What is historic in this event is that Americans can access the Ukrainian market for the first time.”
The mineral agreement has been concluded while the United States said they are increasingly frustrated by the inability of Moscow and Kyiv to negotiate to end the war.
Kyiv is pronounced in favor of an immediate and unconditional ceasefire of at least 30 days. Russian President Vladimir Putin said he agreed with this proposal on the principle, adding, however, that many points were to be clarified before implementing it.
The Kremlin wants a “final” response to a 72 -hour truce
Responding to the Moscow’s offer of a three-day ceasefire around May 9, when Russia celebrates its victory over Nazi Germany during the Second World War, Volodymyr Zelensky said that it was arranged there provided that the truce lasts 30 days.
He added that Ukraine, given the continuation of the war with Russia, could not guarantee the safety of foreign dignitaries who would go to Moscow for the traditional May 9 victory parade.
“We cannot be responsible for what is happening in the territory of the Russian Federation. It is she who is responsible for your security, and we will therefore give you no guarantee.”
In response, the vice-president of the Russian National Security Council, Dmitri Medvedev, said that no one could guarantee that Kyiv would survive until May 10 if Ukraine attacked Moscow on May 9.
The Kremlin also asked on Saturday a “final” response from Ukraine to the three-day cease-fire proposal, which, according to its spokesperson, is a test to assess the Kyiv intentions.
