Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said he is prepared to defend his country’s interests more openly and forcefully if international pressure on Kyiv intensifies. He also acknowledged differences with US President Donald Trump over how to end the war and how to approach Russia.
Speaking in an interview with British newspaper The Sun, Zelenskyy stressed that honesty and openness in discussions with international partners are among Ukraine’s tools for defending itself.
“If there is a lot of pressure on Ukraine at this moment, of course I have to be more loud. And I will be because it’s a part of our defending strategy,” the president said.
He explained that whenever he sees potential threats to Ukraine, he has a responsibility to use every available diplomatic instrument to protect the country, just as Ukrainian soldiers defend it on the battlefield.
Differences with Trump and views on Putin
Zelenskyy acknowledged that Ukraine and the United States do not always share the same views on security, relations with Russia, the supply of Patriot air defense systems and Starlink connectivity.
At the same time, he said he believes Donald Trump genuinely wants to end the war. However, Kyiv and Washington have different approaches to achieving peace.
Zelenskyy attributed some of those differences to Ukraine’s deeper understanding of the Russian leadership’s mentality.
“Putin is a deeply Soviet person,” he said, referring to the Russian president’s worldview and mentality.
He added that Ukrainians, having lived alongside Russia for decades, are better positioned to recognize the Kremlin’s false narratives and understand the reasoning behind its actions.
Ukraine is ready for negotiations, but not peace at any cost
Zelenskyy separately emphasized that efforts to end the war must not result in Ukraine being forced to make all the concessions.
According to the president, Kyiv is prepared to negotiate in any format and even discuss issues it considers fundamentally unfair to put on the negotiating table.
However, Ukraine will not accept a settlement in which it alone is expected to pay the price.
Zelenskyy also stressed the importance of continued US involvement in the negotiating process, describing Washington as a strategic partner whose role as an intermediary remains essential.
European and British support
Commenting on the response of European leaders to recent developments, Zelenskyy thanked them for their solidarity and swift support for Ukraine.
At the same time, he acknowledged that European politicians could express their positions more directly.
However, the Ukrainian president said he would not tell European leaders how they should act, recognizing their domestic political challenges and the importance of maintaining European support.
Despite differences with Washington, Zelenskyy also highlighted the bipartisan support Ukraine continues to receive in the United States and the strong relationship between the Ukrainian and American people built during the years of the full-scale war.
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