Zelenskyy says he's ready to meet in Budapest, urges Trump to be tougher on Putin
Photo: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in an interview with NBC News, said he is ready to travel to Budapest for a meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Zelenskyy emphasized that Trump needs to put more pressure on Putin than he did on Hamas during his recent successful ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
"Putin is something similar but stronger than Hamas," the President said.
He added that the war in Ukraine is large-scale, and the Russian army is the second-largest in the world, "and that's why more pressure" is needed.
The President of Ukraine also called Putin a "terrorist" but confirmed his willingness to meet with the Kremlin leader face-to-face.
"If we really want to have just and lasting peace, we need both sides of this tragedy. How can there be some deals without us about us?" he said.
When asked whether he would insist on traveling to Budapest for the Trump-Putin meeting, Zelenskyy said he told the US leader: "I am ready."
He again stressed that Ukraine will not lose this war, and Putin will not win. Zelenskyy added that Russia is intensifying airstrikes on Ukrainian territory due to its "weak position" on the battlefield.
"That's why he really escalates airstrikes,” Zelenskyy added, saying Putin wants an "energy disaster this winter by attacking us."
When asked if he is willing to negotiate or give up territory to end the war, the President said it is necessary to stop where they currently are.
"If we want to stop this war and go to peace negotiations urgently and in a diplomatic way, we need to stay where we are, not to give anything additional to Putin," Zelenskyy said.
He added that peace negotiations must take place quietly, "not under missiles, not under drones."
When asked if Trump could bring an end to the war, Zelenskyy replied: "God bless, yes."
Trump and Putin meeting in Budapest
On Thursday, October 16, Donald Trump held a phone conversation with Vladimir Putin. After the call, he announced progress and said a new summit between the US and Russian leaders will take place in Budapest, Hungary. Later, when asked for clarification on the timing, Trump said it would happen within the next two weeks.
On the same day, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán also announced preparations for the Trump-Putin summit in Budapest.
Notably, after meeting with Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Donald Trump called on Ukraine and Russia to halt fighting along the current front line.
