Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has rejected claims by President Donald Trump that Russia is serious about ending the war in Ukraine, delivering a sharp rebuke during a high-profile US interview. He said: “With all due respect to President Trump, I think it’s just his personal opinion. Trust me, we understand the Russians much better, the mentality of the Russians, than the Americans understand the Russians. I know for sure Putin doesn’t want to stop the war.”
His remarks came during an appearance on ABC News’ “This Week” with host Martha Raddatz, where he dismissed the notion that Vladimir Putin had any interest in peace talks and insisted that ceasefire negotiations were only being entertained by Ukraine to avoid further bloodshed. Mr Zelensky also roundly rejected Mr Trump’s recent comparison of the conflict to a playground scuffle between children. The billionaire made the remarks during a joint press conference with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz at the White House last week, saying: “Sometimes you see two young children fighting like crazy – they hate each other, and they’re fighting in a park… Sometimes you’re better off letting them fight for a while and then pulling them apart.”
Mr Trump also said he had used the analogy during a recent call with Putin, telling him: “Maybe you’re going to have to keep fighting and suffering a lot.”
Mr Zelensky took issue with that characterisation. He said: “We are not playing in the park with the Russians like two boys, two kids. Putin is not a kid. So we can’t compare and we cannot say, okay, let them fight for a while.”
He continued: “That’s why we are not kids at the playground. Putin is a murderer who came to the park to kill kids.”
The Ukrainian leader cited a recent drone strike in the Kharkiv region which killed five civilians, including three children, just days after Putin pledged retaliation during his phone call with Mr Trump.
Mr Zelensky said such incidents were proof that any suggestion Russia was serious about peace was deluded. He added: “This isn’t some playground fight. This is a full-scale war with real consequences.”
His interview came as the US Congress debates a fresh tranche of military aid for Kyiv, amid deepening divides between Republican and Democratic lawmakers on how best to handle the war.
Although Mr Trump has repeatedly claimed he could end the conflict “in 24 hours” if re-elected, he has yet to outline how he would achieve such a deal. Mr Zelensky has previously said he would welcome peace, but only on Ukraine’s terms – including the full withdrawal of Russian troops from occupied territory.
The war, now entering its third year, has seen tens of thousands killed and millions displaced across Ukraine. Despite recent battlefield setbacks, Mr Zelensky insists his country remains committed to resisting Russian aggression – and will not be pressured into accepting a ceasefire on Moscow’s terms.