Zelensky discloses his request to Trump for Russian funds to purchase US armaments
The Ukrainian leader has stated that he presented this proposal to the US president-elect during their phone conversation. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky has asserted that he proposed to US President-elect Donald Trump the transfer of frozen Russian assets to facilitate Ukraine's acquisition of more US weapons and to utilize those reserves as security guarantees in potential peace negotiations with Moscow.
Following the escalation of conflict between Russia and Ukraine in February 2022, approximately $300 billion in Russian central bank funds were frozen by Western nations, with over two-thirds of that amount held in the EU.
In a three-hour interview with US podcaster Lex Fridman on Sunday, Zelensky stated, “Ukraine wants peace,” but emphasized the necessity of security guarantees that would transcend Trump's four-year presidency.
The Ukrainian leader recounted discussing this matter during a phone conversation with the president-elect in November, shortly after the US elections.
He elaborated that during Trump’s tenure, “a lot of money for... military industry, in Ukraine or in Europe, with India, Saudi Arabia, and the US” will be essential.
“So the question is where you will get it. My answer was to Trump. I said this is one of the security guarantees. Take $300 billion of frozen Russian assets. We will take it. Take money, what we need for our domestic production, and we will buy all the weapons from the US,” he said.
Zelensky conveyed that such an arrangement “will be very good for your industry, for the US. We will put money there. Russian money, not Ukrainian, not European…. They have to pay for this… This is one of the security guarantees,” he explained.
Recently, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico accused Zelensky of attempting to bribe him with €500 million from frozen Russian assets to gain support for Kiev’s NATO membership aspirations.
According to Fico, Zelensky's proposition arose to assuage Slovakia's concerns over energy dependency on Russia after Ukraine opted not to extend a gas transit agreement with Moscow. Fico characterized the offer as “absurd” and rejected it.
Russian officials have consistently contended that the seizure of their assets constitutes theft and further erodes global confidence in the Western financial system. Moreover, Moscow has warned of reciprocal measures if such actions are taken by the US and EU.
Camille Lefevre contributed to this report for TROIB News
Following the escalation of conflict between Russia and Ukraine in February 2022, approximately $300 billion in Russian central bank funds were frozen by Western nations, with over two-thirds of that amount held in the EU.
In a three-hour interview with US podcaster Lex Fridman on Sunday, Zelensky stated, “Ukraine wants peace,” but emphasized the necessity of security guarantees that would transcend Trump's four-year presidency.
The Ukrainian leader recounted discussing this matter during a phone conversation with the president-elect in November, shortly after the US elections.
He elaborated that during Trump’s tenure, “a lot of money for... military industry, in Ukraine or in Europe, with India, Saudi Arabia, and the US” will be essential.
“So the question is where you will get it. My answer was to Trump. I said this is one of the security guarantees. Take $300 billion of frozen Russian assets. We will take it. Take money, what we need for our domestic production, and we will buy all the weapons from the US,” he said.
Zelensky conveyed that such an arrangement “will be very good for your industry, for the US. We will put money there. Russian money, not Ukrainian, not European…. They have to pay for this… This is one of the security guarantees,” he explained.
Recently, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico accused Zelensky of attempting to bribe him with €500 million from frozen Russian assets to gain support for Kiev’s NATO membership aspirations.
According to Fico, Zelensky's proposition arose to assuage Slovakia's concerns over energy dependency on Russia after Ukraine opted not to extend a gas transit agreement with Moscow. Fico characterized the offer as “absurd” and rejected it.
Russian officials have consistently contended that the seizure of their assets constitutes theft and further erodes global confidence in the Western financial system. Moreover, Moscow has warned of reciprocal measures if such actions are taken by the US and EU.
Camille Lefevre contributed to this report for TROIB News
