Zelensky counters Trump's assessment of U.S. support, refuses to see grants as Kiev's debts
MOSCOW. Feb 24 (Interfax) - Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky has refused to view grants from the United States in support of Ukraine as a debt that the country will have to repay.
"We should not recognize grants as debts. Whether anyone likes it or not. I had agreements with [former U.S. President Joe] Biden, and I had agreements with the U.S. Congress. This was bipartisan involvement and support," Ukrainian media quoted Zelensky as saying at a press conference in Kiev on Sunday.
Any other terms and conditions under which Ukraine may be given support should be discussed separately, and Kiev is prepared for that, Zelensky said.
"If the precondition today is that the U.S., our strategic partner, says that they give us help but we must make up for it - we do need your help. And if your condition is that you don't give us help if we don't sign an agreement, then it's understood. The question is, how much help do you give us? Ten billion? Twenty? Thirty? In the form of weapons? I am prepared to discuss all of this with [U.S.] President [Donald] Trump, and I've asked for this to be conveyed. I have no emotions on this score. I am ready. Do they want a pragmatic deal? Fine. Let's talk pragmatically," Zelensky said.
Ukraine stands ready to repay the U.S. its future assistance with interest, which is an acceptable form of an agreement, Zelensky said. "I know what agreements are about [...] That is, Ukraine has to repay two dollars per each dollar it gets from the U.S. In simple language, it's a loan under 100% interest [...] For instance, if the U.S. Congress votes in favor of $50-billion support, we'll have to repay [...] 100% loan interest," Zelensky said.
"If we don't have a choice and can't do without it, perhaps we'll have to agree to that. But I have a question. A logical one. And no one has been able to answer me. When the U.S. sells weapons to Israel, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, or the UAE, do they earn 100% on that?" he said.
"Everything is fine, I just want a dialogue with President Trump," Zelensky said. "I am not signing something that ten generations of Ukrainians will have to repay," he said.
As Ukrainian media reported, Zelensky indirectly challenged some statements made previously by Trump. In particular, Zelensky assessed the overall expenditures during the conflict at $320 billion, including $100 billion covered by the U.S.
"Assistance worth $100 billion from the U.S. is not $500 billion, nor is it $350 billion, or $250 billion, or $700 billion. Ukraine has received $100 [billion], and we are enormously grateful for that," Zelensky said.
However, the overall amount spent on handling the crisis currently stands at around $320 billion, of which $120 billion has been covered by Ukraine itself, $100 billion by European and other partners, including Japan's contribution of some $15 billion, and another $100 billion by the U.S., Zelensky said. "That's what the economics looks like," he said.
Trump said previously that, while he did not have accurate enough figures of Washington's support provided to Kiev during Joe Biden's presidency, he estimated its amount at varying from $300 billion to $500 billion.
Zelensky also said at Sunday's press conference that Ukraine still kept receiving previously authorized assistance from the U.S. and was looking to receive another $15 billion of it.
"This support keeps coming, although, in all honesty, it should be mentioned that this support is old. This dates to the past. We are grateful that it hasn't been stopped, but it's still coming because the deliveries have been slowed down. And honestly speaking, we might get another $15 billion. As to whether it worked or not, something did work, and something is still on its way," Zelensky said.
"Therefore, nothing has been stopped, but nothing new has been declared. That's where we are now," he said.
Zelensky said also that he would "probably have a meeting with Trump," although he could not say when exactly.
