President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he is not “playing games” with U.S. President Donald Trump and seeks an open relationship with Washington. He also stressed that Ukraine will not engage in “political theatre” in its relations with the United States.
Zelenskyy said this in an interview with ABC News, commenting on accusations that he had not shown sufficient gratitude to the United States.
“I do not play games with Trump. That is the difference between me and Putin. I do not play any games with him. I am straightforward and honest. That is all.”
Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine
The president noted that he is grateful to Americans and other partners for their assistance, but does not believe it is necessary to demonstrate this constantly.
“It is better to have partners like me, who express gratitude when they truly feel it, than to say thank you every second and be like Putin. To be very grateful, but when you leave, you get a knife in the back.”
Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine
According to Zelenskyy, relations between Ukraine and the United States require frank dialogue. Asked whether he feels betrayed by the United States, the president replied that he does not feel there is sufficient support.
Zelenskyy also said that Trump’s friendship with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin is a personal decision of the American president. In his view, they have a fairly good relationship.
Position on ending hostilities
The president confirmed Ukraine’s readiness to end hostilities as soon as possible along the current line of contact. At the same time, Kyiv will not agree to legally recognize the temporarily occupied territories as Russian.
According to Zelenskyy, Russia controls 19.3% of Ukraine’s territory. He noted that handing over 25% of the territory to Russia would mean Ukraine would have to withdraw its troops from the rest of Donbas on its own.
On October 21, in an interview with Fox News, Zelenskyy said he was ready to agree to a peace deal that would end hostilities along the current front line. The following day, October 22, in an interview with CNN, he allowed for a freeze in hostilities along the current front line, but stressed that Ukraine would not recognize the occupied territories as Russian and would not agree to transfer additional land to Russia.
Starlink and missile supplies
Zelenskyy said that Starlink satellite communications are still operating with restrictions, despite reports of Trump’s intervention. According to him, the Ukrainian side checks the system’s operation every morning and evening.
The president also reported that over the past 90 days, Ukraine has received only 24 missiles from its strategic partner. He compared this with approximately 2,000 missiles used by countries during the first days of the war in the Middle East.
Responding to a question about whether the United States had blocked the transfer of interceptor missiles from Europe to Ukraine, Zelenskyy said:
“They did not stop it, but they did not sign it.”
Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine
He said he did not know the reasons for the absence of such a signature.
