In a recent exclusive interview at the presidential palace in Kyiv, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed a pressing need for former President Donald Trump to focus his efforts on increasing pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin, rather than on himself. Zelenskyy emphasized the fatigue experienced by his people after more than four years of conflict, yet he reassured that their morale remains intact and they are unwilling to concede to Russia’s demands regarding territory in eastern Ukraine.
Call for European support and alternative funding
During the discussion, Zelenskyy highlighted the importance of European leaders developing a contingency plan to guarantee long-term financial support for Ukraine. He specifically criticized Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán for obstructing a promised €90 billion EU loan, which he described as a form of “blackmail.” Recent reports indicate that some Baltic and Nordic nations have devised a strategy to provide Ukraine with sufficient funds to sustain itself through the early part of the year, even amidst Orbán’s continued veto.
Negotiations and security guarantees
“We need negotiations. We support them,” Zelenskyy said in the interview. “We don’t trust Russia, but I think, and I trust that Americans really want to finish with this war. I hope that they will help us, but we need more pressure on Russia, not on me.”
Zelenskyy acknowledged that Trump’s influence remains crucial in any negotiations for peace. His remarks followed Trump’s recent expression of frustration towards Zelenskyy, urging him to take more proactive steps toward reaching an agreement. Trump voiced an unusual level of confidence in Putin’s willingness to negotiate, although he failed to provide any supporting evidence for his assertions.
Since Trump’s return to the White House in January 2025, his stance has raised concerns among Kyiv and its European allies, particularly as he has often appeared to side with Putin, labeling Zelenskyy a “dictator” and blaming him for the war’s onset, despite clear evidence of Russia’s unprovoked invasion in February 2022.
Zelenskyy noted potential discussions with Trump’s representatives in December, suggesting the U.S. might be prepared to offer some form of security guarantee for Ukraine, which would be essential in any peace agreement. However, the specifics of these guarantees remain unclear. Zelenskyy remarked, “Be honest. For us, it’s very important, but we don’t have a clear answer.”
He recounted a conversation with Trump, where the latter questioned, “Do you trust that our security guarantees can be stronger than NATO?” Zelenskyy affirmed, “Yes, it depends on you for today. It depends on you, Mr. president. God bless if we will have stronger security guarantees than NATO. But what will be after you? And what will be after me?”
Securing these guarantees would require approval from national parliaments and the U.S. Congress, ensuring they could not be rescinded by future administrations.
Amid these geopolitical tensions, Zelenskyy also confirmed that he is dispatching teams of drone warfare experts to the Gulf region to assist U.S. allies in countering Iranian aggression, particularly in light of recent military escalations by Trump against Iran.
The Ukrainian leader expressed hopes of acquiring advanced American-made PAC-3 missiles for Patriot air defense systems in exchange for Ukraine’s support, though he raised concerns about the potential scarcity of these missiles due to their deployment in the Gulf. As of now, no definitive agreements have been reached, and Zelenskyy recognizes the sensitive nature of ongoing negotiations.
Zelenskyy is also grappling with the challenge of maintaining European support amidst tensions with Hungary’s Orbán, who, along with Slovakia, is delaying the €90 billion loan essential for bolstering Ukraine’s economy and defense capabilities. With Ukraine facing a cash shortage imminently, Zelenskyy is urging the EU to establish a contingency plan in light of Orbán’s obstacles.
He asserted, “We and Europe, we all need this plan B. Our European partners and real friends know that we defend not only Ukrainian values; we are defending freedom for all of Europe.”