Ukrainian President Disagrees with Trump’s View on Russia

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has refuted President Trump’s view that Russia is seeking peace, stating that Russian President Vladimir Putin hasn’t shown any signs of intent in that direction.

“I don’t see it, because, number one, you don’t hear about it publicly,” Zelenskiy candidly told Fox News’ Bret Baier in a preview clip aired on “Fox & Friends First.”

He further remarked, “He doesn’t talk about peace.” Instead, he claims that Putin indicates he is willing to go further, which is not what one would expect if peace were truly desired.

During a meeting at Mar-a-Lago, when asked whether he believed Putin was serious about wanting peace, Trump said, “I do,” after having spent nearly two hours discussing a 20-point peace plan with Putin beforehand. Despite this, Russian forces have threatened to continue their military actions until they gain full control of the Donbass region.

Putin previously stated that should Ukraine not seek a peaceful resolution, Russia would meet its goals through military means. Moreover, he has consistently dismissed calls for a ceasefire that could facilitate negotiations, a stance that Trump claims to understand.

After the private meeting with Zelenskiy and their delegations, Trump commented that he felt Putin wanted Ukraine to do well. Referring to plans to rebuild Ukraine, he said, “Russia wants to see Ukraine succeed.” This statement seemed to catch Zelenskiy off guard, leading him to laugh nervously after Trump’s remark that some might find this perspective “bizarre.”

A key hurdle in the ongoing talks has always been the issue of territorial concessions. Zelenskiy has made it clear that he cannot unilaterally transfer land to Russia.

“This is their land,” he emphasized regarding the Ukrainian people’s stakes in the territory. “The land does not belong to one person; it belongs to our country for generations.” He noted that any adjustments in territory would require either a referendum or parliamentary approval. While Trump suggested that a referendum might have strong backing for ending the conflict, Zelenskiy expressed skepticism.

“People want peace. President Trump said it today. Polls show about 85%, probably 87%, support peace,” Zelenskiy shared with Baier in another video preview. However, he also pointed out that the same polls indicated 85% opposed any withdrawal from the east, particularly the Donbass region.

“All parties need to understand that leaving Donbas would pose a significant risk for Ukraine. It’s unacceptable to Ukrainians and to me personally,” Zelenskiy added, reinforcing that a referendum would not be a positive solution.