Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called for the United States to exert greater pressure on Russia rather than on Ukraine, following comments from US President Donald Trump regarding Ukraine’s readiness for peace negotiations. In an interview with Politico, Zelensky emphasized the need for stronger American support to help bring an end to the ongoing conflict with Russia.
Zelensky stated, “We do not trust Russia, but I believe that Americans genuinely want to end this war. I hope they will help us, but it is necessary to apply more pressure on Russia, not on me.” His remarks came in the wake of Trump’s assertion that Zelensky had not shown sufficient willingness to engage in negotiations to resolve the war, while claiming that Russian President Vladimir Putin was prepared to reach an agreement.
Despite facing criticism regarding Ukraine’s stance, discussions with US envoys in December indicated the Trump administration’s willingness to offer security guarantees to Ukraine, which could serve as a foundation for a peace deal. However, Zelensky noted that specifics regarding these guarantees remain unclear, stating, “To be honest, this is very important for us, but we do not have a clear answer.”
During the interview, Zelensky recounted a conversation with Trump, where the US president questioned whether the security guarantees offered by the US could be stronger than those provided by NATO. Zelensky replied affirmatively, emphasizing that the effectiveness of these guarantees depends on the US administration. He added, “Let God bless us if we receive security guarantees that are stronger than NATO’s. But what will happen after you? And what will happen after me?” He stressed the importance of having these guarantees ratified by the parliaments of both nations to prevent future alterations.
In his remarks, Trump refrained from specifying what he believed to be hindrances to an agreement from Zelensky’s side, reiterating that the Ukrainian president needs to take action to finalize a deal. Trump remarked, “It is unthinkable that he would be an obstacle. You have no cards. Now he has even fewer cards,” echoing a sentiment he has expressed previously.
On March 3, after discussions with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Trump reiterated that ending the war remained a top priority for him. He suggested that achieving peace could be simpler, but highlighted the deep animosity between Putin and Zelensky, stating, “Sometimes I blame one side, sometimes the other.”
Throughout January and February, several trilateral meetings involving Ukraine, the US, and Russia took place to address the war’s conclusion, although no concrete outcomes were reported. However, a meeting on February 5 resulted in an agreement for a prisoner exchange, the first in five months.
On March 5 and 6, Ukraine and Russia executed a prisoner swap, with Ukraine successfully returning 500 soldiers from Russian captivity. The arrangements for this exchange were made during negotiations in Geneva in February.
A subsequent meeting scheduled for last week in Abu Dhabi was postponed indefinitely due to escalating tensions in the Middle East.
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has urged the US to increase pressure on Russia rather than on Ukraine, emphasizing the need for clear security guarantees. His comments follow a series of discussions with US officials and recent developments in prisoner exchanges between Ukraine and Russia.
Source: Politico