Key facts
- Zelenskyy rejected Trump's claim that he is harder to deal with than Putin.
- Zelenskyy warned that easing sanctions on Russia could lead to further concessions.
- Zelenskyy stated Putin is an aggressor, a terrorist, and does not want negotiations.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has pushed back against remarks by US President Donald Trump, who suggested he was more difficult to deal with than Russian President Vladimir Putin. Zelenskyy stated that comparing him to Putin is inappropriate, labeling the Russian leader an aggressor, a terrorist, and someone who has killed civilians and occupied Ukrainian territory.
In interviews, Zelenskyy emphasized that Ukraine has the legal right to defend itself against the ongoing Russian invasion. He accused Putin of not genuinely seeking an end to the war and suggested his ambitions extend beyond the Donbas region. Zelenskyy also voiced concerns that concessions to Russia, such as agreements on diesel fuel, could pave the way for further sanctions relief, potentially impacting gas deals, the banking system, and frozen Russian assets.