The President of Ukraine said that the United States cannot force the nation to “sit and listen” in negotiations and further stressed: “We are an independent country.”
Businessman Elon Musk, appointed to manage a department to advise the president-elect of the United States, Donald Trump, commented, ironically, on statements made by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky about negotiation options with Russia.
The multimillionaire, owner of Tesla and Space negotiations. He also stressed: “We are an independent country.”
“Your sense of humor is wonderful,” Musk responded with a laughing “emoticon” and a hyperlink to a 2021 BBC story that noted that Zelensky was a comedian before entering politics.
“On our side, we have to do everything possible to end the war next year. Through diplomatic channels. It is very important,” said Zelensky, in an interview with Ukrainian Radio on Saturday, cited by Europa Press.
He also mentioned that Russian President Vladimir Putin “doesn’t want to negotiate.” “He would like to accept capitulation conditions from us, but no one will give him that”, he highlighted.
The Ukrainian leader also acknowledged the changes that Donald Trump’s ascension to the US presidency will bring and the pressure it will likely put on Kiev to make progress.
However, Zelensky stressed that he will wait for more detailed information about Trump’s perspective in a future meeting with him, which is already being prepared.
“I think the war will end. Not in the abstract. There is no concrete date, but with the policies of the team that will run the White House, the war will end sooner. That is their approach, a promise to their society. We cannot allow them to pressure us, to occupy us, to show weakness”, he added.
“Ukraine will not be left alone with the Russian Federation. What can we negotiate with the murderer? There is nothing to do in negotiations from a position of weakness”, he argued.
Elon Musk will lead, together with businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, the future Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which aims to achieve drastic cuts in the federal government’s public spending.
