Zelensky pleads to Trump: ‘Stay on our side’

Zelensky pleads to Trump: ‘Stay on our side’

On Monday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky appealed to Donald Trump, urging the U.S. leader to remain steadfast in supporting Ukraine. During a visit to Kyiv’s Presidential Palace, marking the fourth year of Russia’s full-scale invasion, Zelensky emphasized the critical importance of American involvement. He argued that the United States, as a global power, cannot afford to disengage from the conflict. Zelensky expressed hope that Trump’s upcoming State of the Union speech would reaffirm U.S. backing for Ukraine in its fight against Russia under President Vladimir Putin.

“They have to stay with … a democratic country which is fighting against one person. Because this person is a war. Putin is a war. It’s all about himself. It’s all about one person. And the country, all his country is in the prison,” Zelensky told CNN. “If they really want to stop Putin, America’s so strong,” he added.

Zelensky acknowledged the toll of the war on his people, describing their exhaustion. Yet he insisted that compromise with Putin’s demands is not feasible. “We can’t just give him everything he wants. Because he wants to occupy us. If we give him all he wants, we will lose everything — all of us, people will have to run away or be Russian,” he said.

As the conflict nears its fifth year, trilateral peace talks among Ukraine, Russia, and the U.S. have stalled. Zelensky highlighted security assurances as a central issue, particularly the uncertainty surrounding allies’ responses to a potential future Russian invasion. “This is not the answer to me. I’m sorry,” he remarked, noting that Russia’s insistence on Ukraine’s surrender of 20% of the Donetsk region — including key industrial hubs and infrastructure — remains a sticking point. The “fortress belt” of railways and roads, vital to Ukraine’s defense, is at stake.

Regarding the sequence of peace steps, Zelensky clarified that security guarantees must first be approved by the U.S. Congress. He argued that this would ensure Ukrainian citizens feel secure in their alliances, citing past disappointments. “We have good things in these security guarantees, it’s true,” he said, but stressed the need for a definitive commitment from partners. “What I want is a very specific answer: what our partners will be ready to do if Putin comes again,” he added.

Zelensky also touched on elections and his leadership. Though initially elected in 2019 for a term ending in May 2024, he has stayed in power due to wartime martial law. Trump, however, has suggested Ukraine should hold elections, even labeling Zelensky a “dictator.” “It’s very interesting when the presidents of different countries, including the United States and Russia, speak about elections in … Ukraine,” Zelensky observed. He questioned whether a new leader would be more willing to yield to Russian pressure. “What do they want? Another president? Okay,” he said, wondering if the idea was to replace him with someone more pliable.