Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has stated that he will not agree to a financial assistance deal with the United States that would require Ukraine to repay aid for generations. He also said he would quit as Ukraine's head of state in exchange for the country gaining NATO membership, DW reported.
"If there is peace for Ukraine, if you really need me to leave my post, I am ready. ... I can exchange it for NATO," Zelenskyy told a press conference in Kyiv.
Referring to the financial assistance received, he said “If the condition is that the United States provides assistance but expects it to be returned with profit, then this is a loan, not a grant. This is a new type of agreement, and I am ready for such a discussion."
He said that Ukraine is open to negotiations but wants transparency regarding the scope and cost of the aid: “If the requirement is to sign an agreement in order to receive aid, then let’s discuss it. Is it $10 billion, $20 billion, or $30 billion in weapons or direct financial assistance? Let’s talk, and let’s establish the cost of this assistance,” he said, according to United 24.
Zelensky pointed to a specific clause in the proposed agreement, which he had legal experts review. “There is a provision stating that for every dollar received, Ukraine must return two. This means a 100% loan,” he said. According to him, while the agreement mentions a 50/50 management structure, all rights to the fund remain with the US.
If such an agreement were accepted, Ukraine would have to return twice the amount of aid received: “If the US Congress approves $50 billion in aid, Ukraine would have to return $100 billion,” he said.
Regarding the billions in previous support from the US, Zelensky made clear that Ukraine does not consider grants to be debt. “We received $100 billion in aid, and that is a fact. But I am not going to recognize $500 billion or any other speculative figure. With all due respect to our partners, I stand firm on this,” he said.
He said that under the previous US administration, Ukraine received grants that did not require repayment. “If today the US proposes assistance that must be repaid, then this is a different type of agreement, and I am ready to discuss it,” he added.
“I want a direct dialogue with Trump. If the US seeks a pragmatic agreement, we can discuss it pragmatically. I have experience signing agreements with serious partners, and they should be structured in a way that maintains partnership and avoids disputes,” he said.