KYIV (Reuters) – President Volodymyr Zelenskiy gave an interview to Reuters on Friday. Here are some of his key quotes, translated from Ukrainian into English by Reuters:
RARE EARTHS AND MINERALS
“(Russian President Vladimir) Putin is not just grabbing them (minerals) along with the land, he is already thinking about how to get other partners in his alliance – North Korea, Iran … and he will give them access.”
“Of course, they have not seized 20% of our mineral resources, it is less. Much less. Nevertheless, it is still hundreds of billions.”
“We need to stop Putin and protect what we have – a very rich Dnipro region, central Ukraine.”
“It seems to me that (U.S. President Donald) Trump can say to Putin: ‘Listen, you just took trillions, it doesn’t work like that. You have to give back what belongs to another country’.”
PARTNERSHIPS WITH ALLIES
“This is very rich land. This does not mean that we are giving it away to anyone, even to strategic partners. We are talking about partnership … Let’s develop this together, make money, and most importantly, it’s about the security of the Western world…”
“(The investment models) could be different … The partners agree on how they will invest. Sometimes it is 50-50, if there are two partners; maybe three or four … the United States are the first – we first shared this plan with them.”
OFFER TO STORE US LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS
“It is very interesting for us, I know it’s very interesting for the Trump administration.”
“We are ready and willing to have contracts for LNG supplies to Ukraine. And of course, we will be a hub for the whole of Europe.”
“We are ready to have contracts and to enable it through us to other EU countries, with pleasure. I know that our American partners support it. We are also ready to let our American partners into this sector, into this market. I think this is also part of the security for Ukraine and Europe, because this is not Russian gas.”
TALKS WITH TRUMP AND HIS TEAM
Zelenskiy said it was important for him to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump before Trump met with Russian President Vladimir Putin:
“It is very important, otherwise it will look like a dialogue about Ukraine without Ukraine. It is still important for partners to discuss their issues first, and then have a conversation with the enemy.”
“I don’t know what compromises can be discussed at the negotiating table, we have not reached that point … It is important for people to understand that Ukraine is negotiating, not accepting ultimatums from Russia.”
“Security guarantees are the main issue I want to talk about with President Trump. And the future is built on the economy – where we are, what we are, people should earn more, and professionals with jobs should live better. And we have absolutely everything for this – we need peace.”
WHO HELPS WITH RECONSTRUCTION
“Those who defend us will rebuild Ukraine. And here, in addition to gratitude, it is a lot of money for business.”
“The Americans helped the most, and therefore the Americans should earn the most. And they should have this priority, and they will. I would also like to talk about this with President Trump.”
BRINGING MORE YOUNG MEN INTO THE ARMY
“Combat brigades, experienced ones, together with the Ministry of Defence … have been working on a contract option for young people aged 18 to 24. This is for those who want to join up, it is not a mobilisation.”
“There is a special contract, there will be many benefits … there is also a very high monetary provision. Details will be made public soon, in the coming days.”
“It will be a one-year contract.”
(Reporting by Olena Harmash and Yuliia Dysa)
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