KYIV, Jan 25 (Reuters) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy stated on Saturday that the U.S. President could potentially fulfill his promise to end the war in Ukraine, emphasizing that Kyiv’s involvement is vital in any negotiations. Zelenskiy expressed uncertainty about the terms of a potential agreement under President Trump, noting that Russia’s President shows no interest in ending the conflict.
Zelenskiy stressed the importance of Ukraine's participation in talks, stating, "Otherwise it will not work. Because Russia does not want to end the war, while Ukraine wants to end it." He pointed out the necessity for clarity on the details of any peace agreement, as the situation nears its three-year mark next month.
In another interview, Zelenskiy acknowledged the complexity of the peace process, indicating that President Trump, despite facing challenges, expressed a genuine desire to end the conflict. Zelenskiy also highlighted the differing stances between Trump and the outgoing Biden administration regarding engaging with Russian President Putin on the matter.
Zelenskiy advocated for the involvement of European allies in future peace negotiations, underscoring Ukraine's and Moldova's aspirations to join the EU. He attributed the recent energy crisis in Moldova to Russia's actions and accused Moscow of attempting to manipulate the situation to influence Moldova's political landscape.
Zelenskiy's stance on barring talks with Putin and his efforts to protect Ukraine's interests in negotiations were reiterated during the briefing with Sandu. Sandu, in turn, underscored Moldova's reliance on Russian energy and the impacts of the energy crisis on different regions within the country, accusing Russia of deliberately exacerbating the situation to advance its political objectives.