Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky praised President-elect Donald Trump’s strength and unpredictability, citing them as assets in ending the Russian invasion.
Zelensky appeared on Ukrainian television on Thursday for an interview about the state of the invasion, during which he was asked what effect Trump’s second inauguration would have on the conflict.
“The ‘hot’ stage of the war can end quite quickly, if Trump is strong in his position,” Zelensky said in the interview. “I believe [Trump] is strong and unpredictable. I would very much like President Trump’s unpredictability to be directed primarily toward the Russian Federation.”
“He can be decisive in ending war,” the Ukrainian president said. “Or more realistically, he can help us stop [Russian President Vladimir] Putin. He can do this.”
Trump has been guarded with the public about his plans for resolving the Russia-Ukraine war but has been emphatic that ceasing hostilities is a top priority for his administration.
In his Person of the Year interview with Time magazine, Trump refused to clarify whether he had spoken to Putin since winning the 2024 presidential election. He also declined to answer whether he would cut support for Ukraine if its government does not agree to peace deals offered by his government.
“The reason that I don’t like to tell you this is that, as a negotiator … when I start, I think I have a very good plan to help — but when I start exposing that plan, it becomes almost a worthless plan,” Trump said.
Zelensky told interviewers on Thursday that he believes Trump “truly wants to end this war” but remains resolute that any peace deal must include an iron-clad security guarantee to prevent future belligerence from Russia.
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“Of course, I would like for President Trump’s proposed plan to be aligned with our view,” Zelensky said in the interview. “It cannot be otherwise. We are Ukraine, and it’s our independence, our land, and our future.”
Zelensky has offered multiple ideas for agreements with acceptable security guarantees but previously stated on multiple occasions that either NATO membership or nuclear weapon development will be necessary.
