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Zelenskyy Extends Congratulations to U.S. Over Iran Truce
(MENAFN) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy congratulated Washington on Tuesday over its two-week ceasefire with Iran, while firmly insisting that military assistance to Kyiv must not be allowed to lapse.
Speaking in an interview with an Italian broadcaster published late Wednesday, Zelenskyy said the truce struck between Washington and Tehran will "make it easier to address this energy crisis."
"In any case, support for Ukraine, with arms supplies, must continue. The US was more focused on the Middle East, which is why the three-way negotiations with Russia were postponed. But we will start again," Zelenskyy said.
The Ukrainian leader also reaffirmed his willingness to hold direct talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, ruling out both Moscow and Kyiv as viable venues while suggesting the Middle East, Europe, or the US as possible alternatives. He stressed that any such meeting must be accompanied by firm security guarantees backed by both European and American presence.
On the question of domestic elections, Zelenskyy said current Ukrainian law prohibits holding a vote under wartime conditions, adding that any future election would need to ensure the safety of both civilians and soldiers participating.
The president also expressed hope that Washington would restore sanctions on Russian oil, and pushed back firmly against any proposal to cede Donbas — warning that surrendering the region would mean handing over Ukraine's most fortified terrain without a single battle fought.
"It could take a year, a year and a half, to build new fortifications. They could attack Kharkiv and other cities that contribute a lot to our GDP. And there will be a rift in society," Zelenskyy said.
Addressing his personal rapport with US President Donald Trump, Zelenskyy was characteristically candid, questioning who could claim a stronger relationship with Trump than himself.
"I think we have a good relationship because I'm one of the few people who tells him what he thinks. There aren't many people who can tell the president of the United States that he's not always right," he added.
Speaking in an interview with an Italian broadcaster published late Wednesday, Zelenskyy said the truce struck between Washington and Tehran will "make it easier to address this energy crisis."
"In any case, support for Ukraine, with arms supplies, must continue. The US was more focused on the Middle East, which is why the three-way negotiations with Russia were postponed. But we will start again," Zelenskyy said.
The Ukrainian leader also reaffirmed his willingness to hold direct talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, ruling out both Moscow and Kyiv as viable venues while suggesting the Middle East, Europe, or the US as possible alternatives. He stressed that any such meeting must be accompanied by firm security guarantees backed by both European and American presence.
On the question of domestic elections, Zelenskyy said current Ukrainian law prohibits holding a vote under wartime conditions, adding that any future election would need to ensure the safety of both civilians and soldiers participating.
The president also expressed hope that Washington would restore sanctions on Russian oil, and pushed back firmly against any proposal to cede Donbas — warning that surrendering the region would mean handing over Ukraine's most fortified terrain without a single battle fought.
"It could take a year, a year and a half, to build new fortifications. They could attack Kharkiv and other cities that contribute a lot to our GDP. And there will be a rift in society," Zelenskyy said.
Addressing his personal rapport with US President Donald Trump, Zelenskyy was characteristically candid, questioning who could claim a stronger relationship with Trump than himself.
"I think we have a good relationship because I'm one of the few people who tells him what he thinks. There aren't many people who can tell the president of the United States that he's not always right," he added.
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