In an exclusive interview conducted amid power blackouts caused by Russian strikes, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has spoken candidly about his relationship with former US President Donald Trump, dismissing reports of volatile meetings and expressing confidence in their working dynamic.
'Normal and Businesslike' Relations with Trump
Zelenskyy directly addressed claims that Trump had tossed maps aside during their October meeting at the White House, firmly stating: "He didn't throw anything. I am sure." The Ukrainian leader described their relations as "normal", "businesslike" and "constructive" - three descriptors that contrast sharply with the Financial Times report suggesting Trump had pressed Ukraine to accept Vladimir Putin's maximalist terms.
Speaking from his presidential palace in Kyiv, where the interview was twice interrupted by power cuts, Zelenskyy revealed the Ukrainian delegation had presented Trump with three stands outlining measures to "weaken" Moscow, including weapons supplies and economic sanctions. The strategy aimed to reduce Russia's bombing capability and force Putin to negotiate.
When asked about widespread apprehension toward the former US president, Zelenskyy responded: "Everyone in the world was afraid of Trump. That's the truth." But regarding his own position, he declared: "No... we are not enemies with America. We are friends. So why should we be afraid?"
King Charles's Crucial Diplomatic Role
In a significant revelation, Zelenskyy credited King Charles with playing a pivotal behind-the-scenes role in strengthening US-Ukraine relations. Following Trump's tempestuous February meeting with Zelenskyy, where the Ukrainian president was publicly browbeaten and effectively kicked out of the White House, the British monarch intervened during Trump's September state visit to the UK.
"I don't know all the details but I understand His Majesty sent some important signals to President Trump," Zelenskyy disclosed. He noted that Trump respected the king and considered him "very important" - a genuine compliment the US president extended to few people according to Zelenskyy's assessment.
The Ukrainian president described King Charles as "very sensitive to our people," quickly correcting himself: "Maybe sensitive is not the right word. He's very supportive."
Living Through Russia's Energy Terror
The interview provided stark evidence of Ukraine's deteriorating energy situation, with the conversation plunging into darkness shortly after it began. Recent Russian attacks have reduced the country's energy generating capacity to "zero," according to state power firm Centrenergo, with Russian drones even targeting two nuclear power stations in western Ukraine.
Zelenskyy described these conditions as "normal" for current Ukrainian life, noting fluctuations in electricity supply affecting Kyiv like everywhere else. He characterised Putin's strategy as "terrorist attacks on Ukraine's energy system" designed to kill civilians and create social tension through deprivation of power and water.
The Ukrainian president revealed he's working with international partners to protect against nightly Russian drone swarms, though he expressed frustration that the UK and other allies have ruled out sending fighter jets. Zelenskyy said he wants to order 27 Patriot air defence systems from US manufacturers, suggesting European states could lend Ukraine their existing Patriots in the meantime.
Military Reality and European Concerns
Zelenskyy provided sobering details about the current military situation, revealing that Russian forces have thrown 170,000 troops into capturing most of the eastern city of Pokrovsk. The war has reached its most brutal intensity in Donetsk province, which remains Putin's primary objective.
Despite the enormous Russian commitment, Zelenskyy asserted: "There is no Russian success there. And many casualties." He disclosed that Moscow suffered 25,000 soldiers killed and wounded in October alone - a record figure that underscores the conflict's ferocity.
The Ukrainian leader warned that Russia is waging a "hybrid war against Europe" and testing NATO's red lines, suggesting Putin could open a second front against another European country before the Ukraine war concludes. "He can do both at the same time," Zelenskyy cautioned, criticising European scepticism that Russia would only move against other territories after securing Ukraine.
He linked increased malign activity across Europe - including drone incursions over Poland and appearances over airports in Copenhagen, Munich and Brussels - to Russia's military stalemate in Ukraine. "Putin is in a dead-end situation in terms of real success," Zelenskyy observed.
Personal Resolve Amid National Crisis
When asked how he's bearing up after nearly four years of gruelling all-out war following his 2019 election, Zelenskyy revealed his motivation comes from profound love for his country. "Well, I just love Ukraine. I can't really find any reasons for it, you know," he reflected. "I think that people are held together by something greater than just logic."
He acknowledged the difficulty of current conditions but affirmed: "I want to be here." Just before the Guardian interview, Zelenskyy had awarded medals to Ukrainian soldiers marking national paratroopers' day, with several receiving the state's highest honour of Hero of Ukraine.
In a telling conclusion that captured the reality of Ukraine's energy crisis, Zelenskyy checked that his military visitors had departed before announcing: "Now we've finished we will reduce some electricity consumption here. We need to save it."
The interview presents a leader navigating complex international relationships while managing a devastating war on home soil - a balancing act requiring both diplomatic finesse and unwavering national resolve.
