In a recent press conference in Kyiv, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy evaluated the state of his relationship with former U.S. President Donald Trump, amidst the ongoing conflict with Russia.
Despite a historically rocky relationship, Zelenskyy expressed a belief that the White House remains more concerned about Vladimir Putin than him.
He stated, “I may say unpleasant things, but I tell the truth. And I say what I think. And he [Putin] may sometimes say very nice things, but those things are lies. And I think that for intelligent people, those who lie are more concerning.”
Zelenskyy emphasized the importance of partnership, even when uncomfortable, and contrasted this with the deceptive nature of Putin’s communications, asserting that true dialogue is impossible with him.
The Ukrainian leader noted that Trump’s administration appears to have recognized that Putin is uninterested in ending the invasion of Ukraine in any manner that aligns with White House aspirations for peace.
On the same day, Trump issued a warning to Putin via social media, cautioning that he is “playing with fire” as Russia continues its bombardment of Ukraine.
Trump claimed in his Truth Social post that if it weren’t for his administration, Russia would face dire consequences, stating, “What Vladimir Putin doesn’t realize is that if it weren’t for me, lots of really bad things would have already happened to Russia, and I mean REALLY BAD. He’s playing with fire!”
Zelenskyy also reiterated the need for the United States to impose additional sanctions on Russia, arguing that increasing pressure is the only way to compel the Kremlin to consider peace talks.
Although the European Union has recently approved a 17th round of sanctions in response to Russia’s refusal to accept Ukraine’s 30-day ceasefire proposal, the U.S. has not implemented new measures since that time.
Following a meeting with Trump in April 2023, Zelenskyy expressed growing confidence that the U.S. would impose sanctions if Putin continued to defy calls for a ceasefire.
He remains willing to engage in discussions with Russia in any format, whether through direct dialogue with Putin or mediation from Trump.
However, Zelenskyy expressed a preference for American involvement in ceasefire discussions and European participation in talks concerning post-war security guarantees, as those nations will be responsible for upholding those agreements.
The Ukrainian president communicated his readiness to negotiate in various conducive locations worldwide.
However, he dismissed Russia’s suggestion of Belarus as a potential negotiation site, labeling it an “unserious” option due to Belarus’s support for the invasion.
Instead, Zelenskyy mentioned Turkey, Switzerland, and the Vatican as more appropriate venues for negotiation.
Looking ahead, Zelenskyy projected that by the summer of 2026, the ramifications of sanctions would begin impacting the Russian economy, leading to a reduction in military production.
He voiced hope that the conflict might conclude by June 2026, although he acknowledged the necessity of Russian political will to achieve this outcome.
The situation remains precarious, with Russia rejecting Ukraine’s recent offers for a temporary ceasefire and significantly increasing its drone and rocket attacks in recent weeks.
Currently, Zelenskyy warned that Russian forces are mobilizing for a significant offensive, with over 50,000 troops amassed near Ukraine’s northeastern Sumy region.
U.S. special envoy to Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, confirmed that Kyiv has provided the U.S. with a set of conditions for a peace agreement with Russia.
In response, Moscow’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced that Russia is preparing its own peace memorandum and will soon release information regarding the next round of negotiations with Ukraine.
This ongoing conflict continues to draw international attention, given the stakes involved for both Ukraine and its allies.
image source from：https://www.politico.eu/article/zelenskyy-i-think-putin-irritates-the-white-house-more-than-i-do/
