Zelenskyy on Trump saying Putin is easier to negotiate with: I find him easier than Putin
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that he finds US President Donald Trump easier to deal with than Russian ruler Vladimir Putin, commenting on Trump's remarks that Putin is easier for him to negotiate with.
Source: Zelenskyy at a press conference at the EU summit in Brussels
Quote: "I'm harder to deal with than Putin… And he's easier to deal with than Putin… I mean, Trump is easier for me.
I have had several meetings with the president of the United States. And we always find topics to discuss and decisions to make. I defend exclusively the interests of Ukraine and the Ukrainian people."
Details: Zelenskyy stressed that Ukraine has the legal right to defend itself against Russian aggression, despite Russia's attempts to restrict its capabilities.
Meanwhile, the president said that ending the war and negotiations remain priorities. He noted that Putin currently has no desire to negotiate in any format.
Quote: "He is playing with words… It simply looks like a parody of a genuine desire to end the war. He does not want to end the war. I am convinced that this is also why Donbas is not enough for him."
Details: Zelenskyy also expressed concern that agreements concerning Russian diesel fuel could pave the way for deals on gas and further sanctions relief for other sectors of the Russian economy. He separately mentioned the risks surrounding frozen Russian assets.
"Well, if I do not defend this, who will do it for us? I mean diplomatically," Zelenskyy said.
Background:
- Trump previously said he does not want to deal with Zelenskyy because he believes Zelenskyy is unwilling to reach an agreement with Russia. Trump also described Ukraine's repelling of the Russian advance on the city of Kyiv at the beginning of the full-scale invasion as a matter of luck. "He doesn't want to settle. He says he wants to settle, but he doesn't. No, I'm not a big fan of Zelenskyy," the US president said.
- Before that, Trump had publicly said that Ukraine needs to hold presidential elections and elect a new leader to replace Zelenskyy, accusing the Ukrainian president of being unwilling to make concessions.
- In one of his recent statements, Zelenskyy said that Trump's advisers are wrong and that it is "painful" when Trump chooses the other side.
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