Zelensky: Trump could be key to stopping Putin's war

Zelensky emphasized in the interview that Putin is evading discussions with Ukraine. Zelensky stated that Putin seizes every opportunity to avoid sitting down with him for talks, emphasizing that the essence of the matter is that Russian president actually does not want any dialogue.

He noted that direct talks between Russia and Ukraine would signify a failure for Russia, as it has not succeeded in occupying all of Ukraine. He said that negotiations between Russia and Ukraine are a loss for Russia, explaining that negotiations are undesirable for Russia because they no longer represent an ultimatum. He added that Russia has not fulfilled the task set by Putin, so it is not really a victory for them.

Zelensky reported that Ukrainian forces thwarted Russian plans to occupy Kharkiv, Sumy, and Zaporizhzhia, which were to be executed in the fall and winter of 2024. Zelensky explained that Moscow had planned three operations there. He stated that, above all, the soldiers stood out in this situation and noted that the country experienced this in 2024. He emphasized that these are Ukrainian cities and Ukrainian people, expressing gratitude to the residents of these cities for enduring a serious ordeal.

He announced efforts to stabilize the front line as soon as January. "We will do everything to at least stabilize the front in January. This is very difficult. If everything that has been promised arrives - there are schedules, some things are on the way - and if the new US administration supports us rather than the opposite," he stressed.

The Ukrainian President simultaneously noted that Donald Trump, the President-elect of the USA, could play a crucial role in stopping the war initiated by Vladimir Putin. "Trump can be decisive. For us, this is the most important thing. He can be decisive in this war. He is capable of stopping Putin or, to put it more fairly, help us stop Putin," Zelensky stated.

According to Zelensky, a strong stance by the USA towards Ukraine will help unite other partners around it. Zelensky said that, to be honest according to him, Europeans directly consider the opinion of the new President of the United States, acknowledging that a lot depends on him because he is determined. He added that he believes Putin is afraid of him and stated that he intends to meet Trump after his inauguration.

Zelensky also addressed the issue of presidential and parliamentary elections, which cannot currently be conducted due to martial law. He didn't rule out the possibility that they could occur only after the end of the hot phase of the war, contingent upon obtaining international security guarantees. He emphasised that, according to the constitution, presidential elections in Ukraine can take place only after, not during, martial law. He further explained that when the current president's term ends, he will continue to fulfill his duties until a new president is elected, and both the president and the parliament remain the legal authority until a new president and parliament are chosen.

Zelensky stated he would decide whether to run for a second term only after the war ends. "I don’t know, I don’t know how the war will end. If I do more than I can, then I will probably look at it (running for office - ed.) more positively. That’s the only way I can answer. For me, this is not my focus today; it is not my goal today," he said.