The chief of staff of the Ukrainian president, Andriy Yermak, said that Ukraine is not ready to compromise with Russia and cede territory to end the war, in response to the statement of the US presidential candidate Donald Trump , that can quickly end the conflict. Yermak, told reporters in Washington that Kiev would listen to any advice to achieve a "just peace" in the war started by Russia in February 2022, Reuters quoted him as saying, reports News.bg.
"But we are not ready to compromise on very important things and values... independence, freedom, democracy, territorial integrity, sovereignty,", Yermak said.
Yermak's visit came ahead of a NATO summit in the US capital next week, where Ukraine is expected to be a major topic of discussion.
Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, said during a debate with incumbent Joe Biden last week that if re-elected in November, he would resolve the war in Ukraine before taking office in January.
Trump has not detailed how he would achieve that, but Reuters reported last week that two key Trump advisers presented him with a plan that included threatening to freeze US aid if Kiev did not open talks with Moscow. However, during the debate, Trump said he did not accept Russian President Vladimir Putin's terms. Putin said Russia would end the war if Kiev agreed to hand over the four regions in the east and south that Moscow claims.
Asked how Ukraine assesses Trump's ability to handle the war, Yermak said: "The honest answer: I don't know. Let's see."
Ukraine will lobby the new US administration for continued support, he added, noting that Ukraine has received bipartisan support in Washington and polls show most Americans still support Ukraine after two years of war.
"This will be a decision of the American people. We will respect that choice," Yermak said about the November 5 presidential election.
The United States has provided Ukraine with more than $50 billion in military aid since 2022. US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Tuesday that more than $2.3 billion in new security assistance for Ukraine will be announced soon.