Zelenskyy: Unfair that Trump publicly urges Ukraine, not Russia, to make concessions for peace

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said it is "not fair" that US President Donald Trump continues to publicly call on Ukraine, rather than Russia, to make concessions for the sake of peace.

Source: Zelenskyy in an interview with Axios

Details: Zelenskyy argued that, although it may be easier for Trump to put pressure on Ukraine than on Russia, a path to a lasting peace cannot be built by effectively giving victory to Russian leader Vladimir Putin.

Trump has in recent days twice said that the responsibility for making concessions lies with Zelenskyy.

Quote: "I hope it is just his tactics and not the decision."

Details: Zelenskyy also thanked Trump for his peace efforts and said that his discussions with US negotiators – Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner – do not involve the kind of pressure Trump uses publicly.

"We respect each other," he said, adding that he is "not such a person" who easily gives in to pressure.

Amid changes in the Russian delegation, now led by Putin's adviser Vladimir Medinsky, Zelenskyy said he feared the Russian side would try to return to the starting point in order to buy more time for Moscow on the battlefield.

He added that, like Putin, Medinsky often likes to philosophise about the "historical roots" of the war: "We don't have time for all this shit. So we have to decide, and have to finish the war."

Zelenskyy also said that military talks with Russia in Abu Dhabi had been more productive.

He believes the sides largely agreed on a US-led mechanism to monitor a ceasefire using drones, if one is reached.

Ukraine wants European countries to be involved in this process as well, but Russia is opposed.

Background: On 17 February, the delegations of Ukraine, the US and Russia in Geneva concluded the first day of talks in both political and military tracks. The groups will continue their work on the morning of 18 February, with statements from the sides expected afterwards.

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