War in Ukraine: Zelensky says he wants to agree with Trump on a peace plan before talking to Putin

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky believes Donald Trump has the means to end the war. But first, he wants to meet the president-elect who will arrive at the White House on January 20 to agree on a peace plan before any negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“First with Trump, we agree with him on how to end the war, how to stop Putin,” Volodymyr Zelensky said in this three-hour interview with American podcaster Lex Fridman, also affirming that he was “very “important that Europe has a voice” in the discussions. “Trump and I will reach an agreement and I am sure that he will be able to offer strong security guarantees with Europe and then we will be able to talk to the Russians,” he said.

Trump can end conflict, says Zelensky

The Ukrainian president was very complimentary of the future American president, who won against Vice-President Kamala Harris because “he was much stronger”, according to him. “I see now that when I talk about something with Donald Trump whether in person or on the phone, all the European leaders ask me ‘how did it go?’ “, he explained, adding: “It shows the influence of Donald Trump, and this has never happened before with an American president, in my own experience.”

If the return of Donald Trump to the White House raises hopes in kyiv of strong decisions after almost three years of Russian invasion, it also raises fears of a drop in American financial and military support, which the Republican leader has criticized on numerous occasions. times.

Zelensky ready to negotiate

The Ukrainian president has long refused to negotiate an end to the war with Vladimir Putin, but he recently softened his position, notably agreeing to temporarily give up trying to retake the territories conquered by Moscow, in exchange for security guarantees from NATO. and an increase in arms deliveries to kyiv. In this interview, he said he prayed that Donald Trump would not withdraw the United States from NATO because such a withdrawal would represent “the biggest risk” for security in Europe, according to the Ukrainian president.

Asked about possibly coming to the United States on January 20 for Donald Trump’s inauguration, the Ukrainian president said he would like to be able to attend “depending on what’s happening at that time in the war,” but that For this he was waiting for a formal invitation from the future American president.

Beyond that, Ukraine’s position in the Kursk region is “important” for possible future negotiations, said American Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Monday. “Their position in Kursk is important, because it is certainly an element to take into account in any negotiations that could take place in the coming year,” Antony Blinken said at a press conference in Seoul, the first stop on a farewell tour which will also take him to Japan, France and Italy.

These statements come as Moscow said on Sunday that it was repelling a new Ukrainian offensive in this border region where kyiv’s forces already control several hundred square kilometers. According to the Russian army, “the assault group of the Ukrainian army was defeated by artillery and aviation” and “the operation to destroy units of the Ukrainian forces continues.” In this area, Russia has been supported for several weeks by thousands of North Korean soldiers, according to the West and kyiv.

The Ukrainian army has remained silent about the operation, but the head of the Ukrainian presidential administration, Andrii Yermak, broadcast a fairly clear message on Telegram: “Kursk region, good news. Russia gets what it deserves.”