President of the Kyiv School of Economics, Professor of Economics at the University of Pittsburgh, Timofey Mylovanov, explained the importance of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's interview with Time, which was the first after the quarrel with the American leader in the Oval Office.
Milovanov writes about this on his Facebook page.
"I think Zelensky wanted to lead the world after him. But he had to go it alone, both in Ukraine and in the world," he points out.
He recalls that the president told Time what happened in the Oval Office - "this is his first interview after that argument."
"TIME: February 28, Washington. Zelensky brings Trump Usyk's champion belt. But he doesn't start with a gift, but with a photo of tortured Ukrainian prisoners of war. Zelensky shared that after that the conversation went in the wrong direction. In a small room behind Zelensky's office, there are three paintings hanging: a sunken Russian ship, Ukrainian troops on Russian territory, and the Kremlin on fire. Zelensky says: they are all about victory," Mylovanov writes.
He then recalls how the negotiations in the Oval Office "began to fall apart": "Trump is freezing military aid. One of the American diplomats compares it to hitting the mud with a two-meter board. Zelensky: even if it's unpleasant, it's reality."
"Putin convinced the White House that Ukrainians were surrounded in Kursk. Zelensky: this is a lie. But the White House repeated it, " the economics professor's post says, mentioning what happened next: - March 11, Jeddah. After 9 hours of negotiations, Zelensky tells the team: we accept a ceasefire without conditions. Without NATO. Without guarantees. Yermak: we must be pragmatic."
Instead, he notes that Zelensky's level of support in Ukraine has increased to almost 70%: "Zelensky: I defended the dignity of Ukraine. When it comes to freedom and dignity, Ukrainians rise up and unite."
Timofey Mylovanov added that he considers this interview timely:
"A cool interview and TIME article. Very timely, when there is a struggle between brands, and during negotiations. Good and useful for Ukraine."
As a reminder, Apostrophe previously wrote that Putin's press secretary Dmitry Peskov reacted to a photo of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky against a painting of the burning Kremlin. He said that he did not like the photo.
Read also about the Georgian artist Sandro Antadze, whose brush is the painting of the burning Kremlin .