Zelenskyy rejects US agreement that would indebt Ukraine for ten generations
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (Photo: RBC-Ukraine, Vitalii Nosach)
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated that he will not sign an agreement with the United States under conditions that would force ten generations of Ukrainians to repay the debt. Therefore, a dialogue with American leader Donald Trump is necessary.
"If today the condition is that the US says, 'We will give you aid, but you must return it with a profit for the US,' then this is a deal. This is a deal, not a grant. This is a new deal. And I said that I am ready for such a dialogue," Zelenskyy stated.
The president expressed confidence that such a dialogue would be positive, "whether I like it or not because we need help."
"If your condition is that you will not provide assistance unless we sign an agreement, then it is clear. The question is—how much assistance are you offering? 10, 20, 30 billion? In weapons, direct financial aid? Let's talk. I will be grateful. Tell me the price of this assistance," he added.
The head of state named another reason why he refused to sign the agreement with the US.
"Because I don't understand this logic. Or let me say how I understand it. I am ready to discuss all this with Trump. They want a pragmatic deal? Okay, let's discuss it pragmatically. I've had several deals in my life, I know how to sign agreements with serious people," Zelenskyy remarked.
He emphasized that the agreement should be signed " so that we remain friends and partners and understand how we part ways — not through scandals and lawsuits, but as partners."
"There is one element. I underlined it in red so that lawyers could go over it. Essentially, for every dollar from the US, Ukraine must return two. Simply put, this is a 100% loan. They say, 'It's your fund, we manage it 50/50.' No, 100% of the fund's rights belong to the US. And if the US Congress votes to provide $50 billion in aid, we must return $100 billion," the president explained.
Zelenskyy noted that Ukraine would have to repay the US $100 billion in this case.
"If this is necessary and we have no other choice, we must go for it. But my question is — when the US sells weapons to Israel, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, they make 100% profit. I want a dialogue with Trump. I want a dialogue. I am not signing something that ten generations of Ukrainians will have to repay," the head of state emphasized.
US-Ukraine deal
It should be recalled that the US proposed a partnership agreement with Ukraine, giving them access to Ukraine's strategic materials as a supposed payment for the aid provided. The agreement was presented in Ukraine by US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
The US wants to receive 50% rights to Ukraine's rare earth resources, which is allegedly meant to compensate for the assistance provided. However, Ukraine is not ready to agree to these terms.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy explained that Ukraine wants security guarantees included in the agreement.
Earlier, the US had claimed that Ukraine and the US were supposed to sign the natural resources agreement this week. However, on February 22, Sky News reported that Zelenskyy was not ready to sign the deal due to "problematic issues."
According to Bloomberg, Ukraine also rejected the US proposal for a $500 billion fund as part of the natural resources agreement.
