Zelensky on talks with Russia: "This will only be possible after my meeting with Trump."

Negotiations with Russia are only possible after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky meets with U.S. President Donald Trump.

Zelensky mentioned this in an interview with podcaster Lex Fridman.

Zelensky stated that Trump could stop Putin because he "fears him."

When Fridman asked if Zelensky could meet with Trump and Putin together in January to sign a peace treaty with security guarantees, the Ukrainian president replied that he first wants to meet only with Trump and involve Europeans in the negotiations.

“I think on January 25 or another day, we will first sit down with Trump. We will agree on how we can stop the war and Putin. And we will come to an agreement with Trump. If he offers strong security guarantees, then after that there could be a conversation with the Russians. Only then, not just sitting down together immediately,” said the President of Ukraine.

“It is important for us that Europe also has a voice,” Zelensky added. “I am confident that he [Trump], together with Europe, can offer strong security guarantees to Ukraine.”

“What will happen to Trump if he calls for a ceasefire, and three months later Putin launches a new attack? What will Trump and Ukraine look like? And why would Putin start? Because he fears Trump today. And as soon as Trump goes for a ceasefire without serious security guarantees for Ukraine, he will hand over the opportunity to Putin. He doesn’t want that, but he will give Putin a chance, because in Putin's mind, he wants to drive a wedge between me and Trump,” said the Ukrainian president.

Zelensky urged not to wait for Putin's willingness but to force him to stop the war. According to Zelensky, Putin does not wish for the war to end.

Background. Recall that the Ukrainian president recounted how in 2019 he tried to reach an agreement with Putin on a ceasefire and prisoner exchanges in the Normandy format. “The Russians just stopped answering the phone,” he said.