Zelensky called on Trump to increase pressure on Putin during negotiations
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he expects US President Donald Trump to increase pressure on Vladimir Putin during possible negotiations to end the war.
He said this in an interview at the presidential palace in Kyiv.
Zelensky noted that Ukrainians are tired of the war, but morale remains high and the country is not ready to agree to Russia's demands to transfer significant territories in eastern Ukraine.
He stressed that Ukraine supports negotiations but does not trust Russia.
"We need negotiations. We support them. We do not trust Russia, but I think and trust that the Americans really want to end this war. I hope they will help us, but we need more pressure on Russia, not on me," Zelensky said.
His statement came after Donald Trump said that the Ukrainian president should work harder to reach an agreement and expressed the opinion that Vladimir Putin may be ready for negotiations.
Zelensky also said that Ukraine needs more certainty regarding security guarantees from the US in the event of a peace agreement.
"Be honest. This is very important for us, but we do not have a clear answer," the Ukrainian president said.
According to Zelensky, Donald Trump asked him whether he trusted possible US security guarantees more than NATO guarantees.
“President Trump said to me, ‘Do you trust that our security guarantees can be stronger than NATO?’ I replied, ‘Yes, it depends on you today. It depends on you, Mr President. God willing, we will have stronger security guarantees than NATO. But what will happen after you? And what will happen after me?’” Zelensky said.
He stressed that security guarantees must be approved by national parliaments and the US Congress so that they cannot be revoked by future administrations.
The Ukrainian president also said that Ukraine is sending drone warfare specialists to the Persian Gulf countries. They will help US allies defend themselves against attacks by Iranian Shahed drones, which Russia is using against Ukraine.
Zelensky hopes to receive American PAC-3 missiles for Patriot air defence systems in return. At the same time, he expressed concern about a possible shortage of these missiles, as they are used by the US military to protect countries in the region.
The president noted that no final agreements on this have yet been reached.
Speaking about his relationship with Vladimir Putin, Zelensky said that Donald Trump is right in saying that there is mutual hostility between them.
"Of course, I think we hate each other. He is right about that. Not about everything," Zelensky said.
The Ukrainian president also commented on the position of Hungary and its Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.
According to him, Hungary and Slovakia are blocking an agreed European Union loan of €90 billion to support Ukraine's economy and defence industry.
Zelensky called on European countries to prepare an alternative financing plan in case Budapest's position cannot be changed.
"We and Europe, we all need this plan B. Our European partners and true friends know that we are defending not only Ukrainian values, we are defending the freedom of all of Europe," he said.
Zelensky also said that Viktor Orbán is an ally of Russia.
"He is on the side of the Russian leader. He is doing the same thing, blocking everything for Ukraine. The only thing he is not doing today is attacking our territory with missiles or drones and sending his soldiers," Zelensky said.
According to the Ukrainian president, Hungary is blocking financial aid and arms supplies to Ukraine and opposes the country's accession to the European Union.
