Zelenskyy says US support is 'critical' for Ukraine' survival, calls Putin 'scared' of Trump
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he believes his country has a "low chance" of surviving its bloody war with Russia without continued American support.
"I think it's very important, critical," Zelenskyy told NBC's Kristen Welker in an interview that aired Sunday. "I don't want to think that we will not be strategic partners. I don't want to think about it because it will make a pressure on morality of Ukrainians"
Last week, President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke on the phone, having a "lengthy and fruitful" discussion, Trump said. The world leaders reportedly agreed to begin talks of ending the war between Russia and Ukraine, which exploded over 2 years ago after Russia invaded its neighbor.
Trump last week also floated the prospect of a future meeting with Putin in Saudi Arabia to discuss ending the war in the region, though an exact date has not been set.
Zelenskyy has not received an invitation to the talks, he told NBC.
"I will never accept any decisions between the United States and Russia about Ukraine. Never," he said. "The war in Ukraine is against us, and it is our human losses. And we are thankful for all the support..."
"But," Zelenskyy added, "there is no any leader in the world who can really make a deal with Putin without us about us."
The United Nations last month said the conflict has killed more than 12,300 civilians since February 2022, including more than 650 children.
Trump, less than a month into his second term, has largely flipped the script when it comes to U.S. dealings with Russia. Where former President Joe Biden referred to Putin as a "pure thug" and "brutal tyrant," Trump has shown a willingness to engage with, and potentially negotiate with, the longtime Russian leader.
During the 2024 presidential election, Trump also repeatedly criticized ongoing U.S. support for Ukraine.
Zelenskyy cautioned against trusting his wartime adversary, though, telling NBC he does not believe Putin is capable of negotiating in good faith.
In a phone call with Trump last week, the Ukranian president said he warned his U.S. counterpart that Putin is "a liar."
"But I think he's really a little bit scared about the President Trump," Zelenskyy said of Putin. "And I think the president has this chance, and he's strong. And I think that really he can push Putin to peace negotiations ... But don't trust him. Don't trust Putin."
Contributing: Kim Hjelmgaard and Cybele Mayes-Osterman, Paste BN