Zelensky hopes to remain “strong” in the face of Russian demands

Ukrainian President Foludmir Zelinski said he hoped that the United States will stand in the face of Russian demands to lift sanctions as a ceasefire condition in the Black Sea.

Moscow said that a naval truce announced on Tuesday to allow the safe passage of commercial ships, only once Western restrictions on fertilizer trade in Russia.

Zelinski was speaking during an interview with a committee in Paris with journalists from all over Europe.

In response to a question from the BBC if the United States is resisting Russian pressure, he said: “I hope that. God bless that, I will see.”

The White House said on Tuesday that Russian and Ukrainian delegations agreed to a ceasefire in the Black Sea three days after separate talks with US officials in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

But hours later, the Kremlin issued its own statement, including the list of conditions.

It includes its demands Canceling Western sanctions on financial institutions It is involved in agricultural trade and its access to the Swift international payment system – a network that facilitates safe financial messages.

Trump said that the US government was “looking for” Moscow’s request to lift restrictions, but the European Union said on Wednesday that it would not consider removing sanctions before the “unconditional” withdrawal of Russian forces from internationally recognized lands.

Speaking to the committee in Paris, Zelinski said he was “very grateful” to support the two parties from the United States, but he said he was afraid that some would be “under the influence of Russian novels.”

“We cannot agree to these novels,” he said.

When asked if US President Donald Trump had a closer relationship with him or Russian President Vladimir Putin, Zelinski said he did not know.

“I don’t know – it’s difficult to say,” he said. “I don’t know what relationships he possesses, I don’t know the number of conversations he had.”

The Ukrainian leader was also asked about comments from the Trump Steve Wittakv’s envoy, who rejected Europe’s efforts to create a “alliance of those who wish” to support Ukraine In an interview last week.

In response, Zelinski said he will not “hurry to hurry to conclusions.”

He said Witkoff, who has a background in real estate development, did not have this experience.

“As far as I know, he knows very well how to buy and sell real estate, but this is somewhat different,” he said.

He also said that Europe “has greatly strengthened itself” during the war.

BBC also asked Zelinski how to remember in history books: The man who saved Ukraine, or the man who left it falling?

“I don’t know what the history books you will write about,” he said. “This is not my goal or my goal.”

He said that his goal was to defend Ukraine and see his children “walk along their 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.

On whether Ukraine should be allowed to join NATO, Zelinski said that the “stiffness of the battle” nation will make the coalition stronger, although it indicated that the Trump administration excluded Kiev’s membership.

The interview was held shortly after Zelinski met with French President Emeonuel Macron in Paris, where the Eiffel Tower was lit in the colors of the Ukrainian flag in his honor.

Ukraine president has returned to Europe to mobilize his allies and persuade them to threaten Putin seriously.

They are doing it now – some may even say a stampede to do so – but they previously relied on Americans to do the heavy lifting in terms of military ability.

After all that Trump said in the past two months, the Europeans realize that the Americans may not be there in the future, which has focused their minds.

The Challenge of President Zelensky is to make them make difficult monetary obligations instead of just feelings.

His meeting with Macron has already proved fruitful, as the French president announced a new package of military aid worth 2 billion euros ($ 2.2 billion; 1.6 billion pounds) for the military aid of the war torn.

In reference to the Kremlin’s request to lift the sanctions, Macron said that Moscow cannot “dictate the conditions” for peace, adding that it is too early to think about lifting European sanctions on Russia.

It comes before the gathering of European leaders in Paris on Thursday to discuss the war in Ukraine.

The “Alliance of those who want” – which does not include the United States – is trying to form an agreement on support that European countries and others can provide to maintain a ceasefire in the future, if one is agreed upon.