Nothing personal between me and Trump, Zelensky tells CNN

Zelensky Urges Pressure on Russia as US-Ukraine Relations Face New Strain

Earthguardiansonline.com – Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has sought to lower the temperature in his country’s dispute with US President Donald Trump, insisting the disagreement is not rooted in personal animosity. At the same time, he warned that reducing pressure on Moscow would strengthen Vladimir Putin and make it harder to end the war.

The comments come after a difficult period in relations between Kyiv and Washington. Trump’s announcement of an agreement to purchase Russian fuel challenged wider efforts to isolate Russia economically, while his decision to waive some sanctions prompted criticism from members of his own party. Ukraine has also faced limits on access to Starlink, the satellite internet service operated by Elon Musk, alongside concerns about intelligence sharing and delayed military supplies.

Zelensky said the central issue was not his relationship with Trump, but the consequences of allowing Russia greater room to maneuver.

“My attitude to Putin is very clear. I think that if we lift sanctions, we will make him stronger. It’s not something personal between me and President Trump, and of course I’m against of any lifting of sanctions.”

Diplomacy continues amid doubts over Putin’s intentions

The Ukrainian leader spoke as US representatives renewed efforts to find a political path out of a conflict that has lasted four and a half years. US special envoy Steve Witkoff met Putin for three hours in St. Petersburg on Wednesday, following a meeting with Zelensky in Oslo the previous day.

Witkoff’s description of Putin as a “humanitarian” after the release of 74-year-old American prisoner Stephen Hubbard drew controversy. Trump argued that tougher sanctions could have prevented Hubbard’s release and could damage the possibility of securing an agreement on Ukraine.

“When you’re close to a deal and you have delicate negotiations, you don’t put sanctions on.”

Trump also said that imposing additional restrictions could have left Hubbard imprisoned for decades. His administration maintains that negotiations may offer the best opportunity yet to halt the war, although the gap between Moscow’s demands and Kyiv’s position remains substantial.

Zelensky described his Oslo discussions as productive but said he remains unconvinced that Putin genuinely wants peace. Putin agreed to hold talks in November after Witkoff’s visit, though few details have been provided about the format, participants or possible agenda.

“Putin is playing, you know, he is a player,” Zelensky said. “It’s a pity because he plays with the lives of other people, and of course he doesn’t want (to stop the war). So what we want from our partners (is) not to give him a possibility to be stronger and break us.”

Overnight attacks underline the stakes

The diplomatic activity unfolded alongside another wave of Russian attacks on Ukraine. Strikes between Wednesday evening and early Thursday killed one person and injured at least 22 others in Kyiv, local emergency services said. Russia launched hundreds of drones and ballistic missiles overnight, only hours after fresh peace discussions appeared to gain momentum.

The attacks highlighted a central challenge for any negotiations: military pressure has continued even as diplomats discuss possible compromises. For Ukrainians living under repeated missile and drone alerts, declarations of progress carry limited meaning unless they are followed by a reduction in attacks and a credible ceasefire.

Trump said his administration was closer than ever to reaching a settlement. Yet Russia has maintained maximalist demands, including demands involving Ukrainian territory. The future of the remaining parts of Donbas not under Russian control has become a major focus of discussions.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the dispute is now heavily concentrated on what happens in the rest of Donbas. He noted that possible approaches to resolving the issue had been proposed, but no public agreement has emerged.

Territory remains Kyiv’s red line

Zelensky indicated that a ceasefire based on the existing line of contact could be considered as a way to stop the deaths and begin substantive talks. Such a pause, however, would not mean accepting Russia’s territorial claims or formally surrendering areas held by Ukrainian forces.

For Kyiv, the question of land is inseparable from the people who live there, the country’s sovereignty and the losses endured during the war. Zelensky said Ukraine would not recognize occupied territory as Russian, regardless of any temporary military situation on the ground.

“Our land is very important because it’s about people. It’s not about kilometers,” he said. “A lot of people died defending this land, defending our independence, our country.”

“Nobody will recognize these territories, which are temporarily occupied, as Russian territories, and I think Russia understands it. It’s a pity if somebody doesn’t understand, but it’s up to them.”

That position leaves little room for a settlement based on Ukraine permanently relinquishing territory it still controls. A freeze in fighting could potentially create space for negotiations, but it would not resolve the underlying disagreement over borders, security guarantees and Russia’s presence in occupied areas.

There have been signs that some of the recent friction between Kyiv and Washington may be easing. Still, the disputes over sanctions, military support, intelligence cooperation and Starlink access demonstrate how quickly practical decisions can affect Ukraine’s ability to defend itself.

Zelensky’s message is therefore twofold: he wants working relations with Trump’s administration, but believes any deal that weakens sanctions or rewards continued military pressure would encourage the Kremlin rather than bring a durable peace. As talks move toward November, the test will be whether diplomacy can produce meaningful safeguards for Ukraine while stopping a war that continues to exact a human cost every day.