Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed gratitude for US military support but criticized the shift in Trump's foreign policy focus away from Ukraine. He emphasized that Putin manipulates diplomatic relations and noted that while Russia isn't losing the war, they are losing initiative daily.
Key points
Zelenskyy appreciates US military support amid ongoing war.
He criticized Trump's foreign policy shift away from Ukraine.
The military situation for Ukraine is improving, but Russia is not losing.
Victory is defined by Russian society's recognition of the war's tragedy.
Mentioned in this story
Volodymyr ZelenskyyDonald TrumpVladimir PutinUS
In the fifth year of Russia’s full-scale war on Ukraine, Volodymr Zelenskyy says he is feeling upbeat and has been grateful for military support from the US, but has a pointed message for Washington.
Speaking to Luke Harding and Pippa Crerar in London, the Ukrainian president acknowledged that the priority of Trump’s second term in foreign policy had shifted away from Ukraine to conflict in the Middle East.
“It’s a pity,” he said, that compared with the help given to the US’s Gulf allies and Israel after the US-Israel war against on Tehran began, Ukraine had never received “that volume of support”.
What didZelenskyy say about Trump’s relationship with Putin? He carefully praised US diplomatic efforts, despite his bruising encounter in the Oval Office and the fact that Trump has been willing to meet Vladimir Putin, saying: “I always said to President Trump that Putin is lying. He plays games with you, with the White House.”
Does he see any prospect of the war ending? The military situation was the most promising it had been for Kyiv for two and a half years, Zelenskyy ssaid. “We can’t say Russia is losing this war. But we can say they are losing the initiative each day, day by day,” he added. “Victory in this war is when Russian society recognises that the war is awful, that the war is a tragedy not for someone, somewhere, but for themselves.” To that end, Zelenskyy said the purpose of long-range strikes – drones buzzing above apartment blocks in greater Moscow and St Petersburg – was to make residents “feel” what war meant.
OpenAI confidentially files for initial public offering on US stock market
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Sam Altman, the chief executive of OpenAI. Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images
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Q&A
What did Zelenskyy say about Trump's dealings with Putin?
Zelenskyy stated that he told Trump that Putin is lying and playing games with the White House.
How does Zelenskyy view the current military situation in Ukraine?
Zelenskyy believes the military situation is the most promising it has been for Kyiv in two and a half years, although he does not claim Russia is losing the war.
What support has Ukraine received from the US compared to Israel?
Zelenskyy lamented that Ukraine has not received the same volume of support from the US as its Gulf allies and Israel have after the recent US-Israel conflict.
What is Zelenskyy's perspective on achieving victory in the war?
Zelenskyy defines victory as when Russian society recognizes the war as a tragedy affecting them personally.
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