Trump’s National Security Advisor Waltz stated that the U.S. needs a leader in Ukraine with whom it can do business

U.S. President Donald Trump’s National Security Advisor, Mike Waltz, stated that the U.S. needs a Ukrainian leader with whom it can do business.

He made this statement on CNN.

It became known that Waltz was asked whether the U.S. president wants the resignation of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

In response, he said that at some point, the Ukrainian leader needs to establish relations with Russia. If Zelensky does not prove to be a suitable candidate for this role, it could cause serious problems.

“We need a leader who can do business with us, at some point do business with the Russians, and if it becomes clear that Zelensky’s personal or political motives do not align with the goal of ending the fighting in his country, then I think we will have a real problem,” Waltz said.

He also added that if Zelensky does not facilitate a resolution of the conflict in Ukraine, it could lead to serious consequences.

Waltz also said that discussing security guarantees for Ukraine at this time is premature.

“Zelensky is like an ex who just wants to argue about what you said nine years ago instead of developing the relationship,” Waltz added.

Furthermore, he stated that the U.S. does not see Ukraine as a NATO member.

Waltz also called Ukraine’s territorial concessions in a peace settlement “obvious.”

He stated that the U.S. cannot get Ukraine to clarify what concessions Kyiv is willing to make for the sake of peace.

“We cannot get specifics from the Ukrainians, but it is obvious that there will be certain territorial concessions in exchange for further security guarantees,” Waltz said.

Meanwhile, Speaker of the House of Representatives Mike Johnson also suggested that Ukraine might need a different leader if Zelensky does not meet U.S. demands.

“Something has to change. Either he must come to his senses and return to the negotiating table out of gratitude, or someone else must lead the country to do so,” the top Republican in Congress told NBC.

Simultaneously with Waltz, Secretary of State Marco Rubio appeared on American television. His statements were also negative toward the Ukrainian authorities.

On ABC, he said that the U.S. views Zelensky’s actions in the White House during his dispute with the U.S. president as an attempt to obstruct the Trump administration’s efforts for a peaceful settlement in Ukraine.

He also stated that he had not spoken with Zelensky or Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sibiga since the Oval Office scandal.

“We will be ready to resume cooperation when they are ready to make peace,” Rubio said.

He also stated that the U.S. will not provide any security guarantees to Ukraine at this time.

“Ukrainians have been repeatedly told that peace must first be established before discussing security guarantees,” he added.

Furthermore, according to Rubio, most European states currently have no plan for ending the war.

It should be noted that members of U.S. President Donald Trump’s team continue to make public condemnatory statements against Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky following the scandal during negotiations in the White House.