Zelensky urged Trump not to succumb to Putin's games
In an interview with the Financial Times on the eve of the fourth anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion, Volodymyr Zelensky said that Ukraine and Russia are on the verge of ending the largest conflict in Europe since World War II. According to him, both sides need a ceasefire, but without clear Western security guarantees, Moscow may use the pause to regain strength.
The president called on the United States not to succumb to Vladimir Putin's negotiating games. He believes that the Russian leader is trying to use his contacts with Donald Trump to weaken Kyiv's position. "The Russians are playing games and are not serious about ending the war," Zelensky said. According to him, Putin is trying to appear convincing, but he cannot be trusted.
The head of state said that earlier this month, Russian officials offered a package of economic cooperation with the United States worth up to $12 trillion. According to him, the proposals included provisions regarding Ukraine that could involve the use of natural resources in the occupied territories.
Zelensky rejected Moscow's claim that Kyiv could use a temporary cessation of hostilities to regroup. "This is demagoguery and lies," he said. According to the president, Russia mobilises about 40,000 troops every month and loses 35,000. "They need a pause no less than we do," he added.
The president stressed that Ukraine needs a ceasefire, but not a pause, but an end to the war. He also said that according to Ukrainian intelligence estimates, in 2025, Russian advances on the front line cost an average of 167 people per kilometre of occupied territory.
Zelensky said that Ukraine has made advances in certain areas of the south-eastern front, particularly after banning the unauthorised use of Elon Musk's Starlink satellite system by Russian forces.
Speaking about the prospects for peace, the president stressed that the cessation of hostilities must be accompanied by commitments from Western partners to deter new Russian offensives. He dismissed as mistaken the idea that handing over Donbas to Russia would end the war. "I don't believe that's all Russia wants," he said.
Separately, Zelensky called on the European Union to set a date for Ukraine's accession to the bloc and named 2027 as a possible date. "I want a date. I am asking for it," he said, stressing that membership cannot be blocked for decades.
The president also called on Western partners to finance and license arms production in Ukraine. He confirmed that Ukrainian FP 5 Flamingo cruise missiles struck a large missile production plant deep inside Russian territory on Saturday.
Zelensky noted that Donald Trump's pressure on Kyiv to make concessions was greater than the pressure on Moscow. At the same time, he expressed hope that the United States would tighten sanctions against Russia. Among the steps he mentioned were stopping the activities of the shadow fleet, restricting the work of Russian companies and ending schemes to circumvent sanctions.
"I hope that President Trump and the United States will put pressure on Russia and stop Putin," Zelensky said, adding that he relies primarily on Ukrainian citizens, the army and domestic production.
