"America expects us not to last until the end": Ukraine's Former Ambassador to the U.S. Speaks on Pressure Toward Ukraine
Oleg Shamshur, who previously served as Ukraine’s ambassador to both the United States and France, believes that ending the war quickly aligns with American interests. Despite statements made by U.S. Secretary of State Rubio, Washington appears to be exerting pressure on Ukraine regarding its withdrawal from parts of Donetsk Oblast controlled by Kyiv.
"Starting from basic logic, I've said this more than once—I am convinced we are under pressure. This conclusion can be drawn from remarks made by Trump, Witkoff, and even Rubio himself. Under Trump’s leadership, the U.S. has an interest in bringing this war to a swift conclusion, regardless of our own interests."
Shamshur noted that the dispute between Zelenskyy and Rubio over "pressure on Ukraine" seems peculiar; Zelenskyy most likely described the real situation at the negotiating table. In contrast, Rubio’s statements have escalated tensions during negotiations.
"It's not entirely accurate to say 'this is how it is,' but the U.S. will act purely based on its own interests. Clearly, Rubio’s remarks indicate that America hopes we will ultimately fail to hold out—whether now or in the future—and will agree to a deal that isn't even a compromise, but rather one extremely detrimental to us."
Earlier, Zelenskyy publicly stated that the U.S. had pressured Ukraine to withdraw from certain areas of Donetsk Oblast it currently controls. According to Zelenskyy, in exchange, Washington offered security assurances.
U.S. Secretary of State Rubio rejected Zelenskyy’s claims, calling them "lies." He stated that the U.S. had actually informed Zelenskyy that Ukraine would only receive security guarantees after the war ends—but these guarantees would not come with conditions such as "unless you cede territory."
In response, Zelenskyy emphasized that he was telling "absolute truth." He also pointed out that "the bulk of the iceberg remains unseen," indicating that he had only revealed part of what he knows.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1861006622364736/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.