Zelenskyy accuses Putin of manipulating Trump
Photo: Volodymyr Zelenskyy (Getty Images)
Ukraine says Russia is not committed to ending the war and is trying to weaken Kyiv’s negotiating position by using international leaders, including US President Donald Trump, according to the Financial Times.
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President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Moscow behaves like "bad actors," creating an illusion of credibility while not genuinely seeking peace.
Russia using Trump to pressure Kyiv
Speaking from the presidential office in Kyiv, Zelenskyy stressed that Russia’s leadership is attempting to manipulate the international arena, including through engagement with US President Donald Trump. He said these efforts are aimed at weakening Kyiv’s position and prolonging the peace process.
"Bad actors" in Kremlin
The president said attempts by Vladimir Putin to appear convincing and trustworthy amount to political theater, arguing that Moscow is trying to influence global opinion and individual leaders without a real intention to end the war.
Implications for international community
Ukraine continues to call for a serious approach to negotiations, warning that Russia’s strategy involving Trump and other international figures risks delaying an end to hostilities and creating new obstacles to a settlement.
Zelenskyy also said actions by Ukraine’s ambassador to the United Kingdom, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, related to the disclosure of an internal conflict in 2022, appeared inappropriate to him and inconsistent with diplomatic norms.
The president added that allies may in the future need to deploy contingents closer to the frontline, noting that France and the United Kingdom could each provide a brigade of up to 5,000 troops, while several other countries have expressed readiness to strengthen Ukraine through military presence.
