Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy shared his thoughts on former US presidential candidate Donald Trump’s approach to the conflict in Ukraine, expressing hope that Trump’s strategy would accelerate the end of the war.
In an interview with Ukraine’s Suspilne broadcaster, Zelenskyy reiterated the importance of a “fair peace” for Ukraine, highlighting the need to avoid a settlement that could be seen as unjust. “A just peace is critical for us, so that we do not feel we have lost the best only to have injustice forced upon us. The war will end, but there is no set date. Of course, with the policy of this team, who will now govern the White House, the war will be over sooner. This is their approach, their pledge to their society, and it is really essential to them,” Zelenskyy stated.
He emphasized that, during his interactions with Trump, he never encountered anything that contradicted Ukraine’s stance. When asked whether Trump’s administration might involve Ukraine in negotiations with Russia, Zelenskyy was firm about Ukraine’s independence: “We are an independent country. And we proved during this war – our people, as much as I personally in conversations with the United States, Trump, Biden, and European leaders – that the approach of ‘sit down and listen’ does not work with us.”
Zelenskyy remains confident that the incoming U.S. administration’s policies could lead to a quicker resolution of the conflict, while stressing that any peace deal must respect Ukraine’s sovereignty and justice for its people.