Cold weather, warm ties: Zelenskyy speaks on Ukraine–US relations
Photo: US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (president.gov.ua)
Relations between Ukraine and the United States are developing at various levels. Active dialogue continues, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said at a meeting with journalists on October 8.
Trump wants to end war and understands Putin is deceiving him
Zelenskyy said that US President Donald Trump wanted an end to the war and peace in Ukraine.
"I think Trump wants us to be at the negotiating table and support this track. He really wants a ceasefire and an end to the war. I believe that was his goal from the very beginning," Zelenskyy said.
According to the head of state, after a personal meeting and analysis of the real situation, Trump realized that the Russians are selling him something they cannot deliver. In his opinion, Vladimir Putin currently has nothing to show for his success. The reality is that the Russians are unable to capture eastern Ukraine.
"Putin needs to show something. He has no success. The Russian summer-autumn offensive operation was a complete failure that cost dearly. Thousands of pieces of equipment were destroyed, and there were heavy losses. And none of the positions they declared they would capture were taken," Zelenskyy emphasized.
He noted that Trump had realized the incompetence of the Russian military, which Putin tried to present as a strong army.
"Trump understands that everything Putin told him in Alaska about Russian military capabilities does not work. He tried to sell substandard goods. I think it offends anyone when they are lied to," Zelenskyy said.
He also recalled that he had warned Trump about the real scale of the war.
"I told him: the Russians will not take the east. If they want to do so, Putin will have to bury a million of his people. We have already seen how much he lost when he captured 30% of our east," Zelenskyy said.
The President of Ukraine emphasized that Ukraine remains ready for a just peace and negotiations within the format proposed by Trump.
"Putin lied to Trump. A person who wants peace cannot just increase the strikes. This is an ultimatum through massive attacks, and ultimatums do not work. We want a fair peace, so there must be a fair dialogue. We are ready for it," the head of state stressed.
Warm relations with Trump's team
Zelenskyy also said that after the meeting with Trump, active dialogue continues between the Ukrainian and US teams. This concerns both officials and the Ministry of Defense and special services.
"They come, communicate, and engage in dialogue. And everyone says that despite the temperature outside, we have warm relations at various levels," Zelenskyy concluded.
Earlier, Zelenskyy announced that at the beginning of next week, a Ukrainian delegation led by Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko will travel to the United States. Among the main topics will be a discussion of sanctions policy against Russia.
Trump's threats
Trump has recently been threatening Russia with sanctions and tariffs. However, no real action has been taken so far, although the American leader even set a deadline for Putin by which Russia had to conclude a truce with Ukraine.
After all, back in early September, Trump announced powerful sanctions against Russia. The oil sector and banks were to be subject to restrictions.
However, Trump later criticized Europe for its insufficiently tough sanctions against Russia and for continuing to purchase Russian oil.
