Zelensky: Putin And Russian Federation Don't Respect Trump But Are Very Afraid Of Him

• 5.09.2025, 9:53

The U.S. president can really put the squeeze on the Kremlin.

Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky believes that US leader Donald Trump is not putting enough pressure on Russia to make it stop the war.

According to "Ukrinform", the head of state said this in an interview for The Rosenberg Report program.

"I don't want to give Putin one percent so that we can say that because of Ukraine we can't have peace," he emphasized.

Zelensky noted that he supported all of Trump's ideas - and negotiations in Turkey, and the demand for an immediate ceasefire, and the conclusion of a peace agreement, and holding trilateral or bilateral talks. At the same time, dictator Putin always refuses all these steps.

"I repeat once again that Putin is trying to refuse any negotiations. Putin is trying to buy a pause in sanctions policy.... Trying to manipulate, to find time, using various reasons why the United States should wait a little bit, not to exert so much pressure," he added.

"Putin is a potential liar.... For Russia, the United States is an enemy in any case. They respect the power that the United States has, but not the values. ... Putin, Russia does not respect the United States ... But they are afraid, very afraid," the Ukrainian president said.

Zelensky also said he sees the U.S. president as someone "who can really put pressure on Putin to sit down at the negotiating table and bring peace to Ukraine and all the countries of Europe."

The head of state believes Trump is not putting enough pressure on Moscow.

"And President Trump knows my opinion ... If Putin slows down again with any peace talks, we do expect to see powerful U.S. pressure on Russia. ... It's not enough just sanctions, it's not enough just weapons. It has to be a combination of sanctions, weapons and President Trump's political pressure on Putin," he explained.