Zensky hopes that we will remain ‘strong’ in the light of the Russian demands

The Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zensky has said that he hopes that the US will remain “strong” in the light of Russian demands to lift sanctions as a condition for a ceasefish -the fire in the Black Sea.

Moscow said that a maritime ceasefire announced on Tuesday to allow a safe passage for commercial ships, only if the Western restrictions on the Russian food and art trade were lifted.

Zelensky spoke with journalists from all over Europe during a panel interview in Paris.

Asked by the BBC or the US would stay strong, he said, “I hope so. God bless, they will. But we will see.”

The White House said on Tuesday that the Russian and Ukrainian delegations had agreed to a ceasefire in the Black Sea after three days of individual conversations with American officials in Saudi Arabia.

But hours later, the Kremlin published its own statement including a list of conditions.

The requirements include Withdrawing Western sanctions at financial institutions Involved in the agricultural trade and repairing their access to the Swift International Payment System – a network that makes safe financial messages possible.

Trump said that the US government was to “looked up” limitations to be removed “, but the EU said on Wednesday that it would not consider removing sanctions before the” unconditional “withdrawal of Russian troops from the international territory of Ukraine.

In a Panel in Paris, Zensky said that he was “very grateful” for two -part support from the US, but said he feared that some were “under the influence of Russian stories.”

“We can’t agree with those stories,” he said.

When asked whether US President Donald Trump had a closer relationship with him or Russian President Vladimir Putin, Zensky said he didn’t know.

“I don’t know – it’s hard for me to say.” he said. “I don’t know what relationships he has, I don’t know how many conversations he has had.”