The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, believes that former U.S. President Donald Trump has a war-ending strategy that he appreciates. Zelensky shared this perspective in an interview with the Italian newspaper Il Foglio.
According to Zelensky, Trump genuinely seeks to end the war, although the specifics of his plan are not yet known. He suggested that even Trump himself may not be aware of all the details.
His approach conveys the signal of a strong leader. He does not take preliminary steps but immediately delivers a clear message, Zelensky noted while discussing Trump’s style.
The President of Ukraine also stated that Russian leader Vladimir Putin is not interested in ending the war, as Russia only recognizes the "language of power."
Trump understands these challenges and clearly states that the war needs to be concluded, otherwise, the situation will worsen. His words are directed specifically at Russia. This is the kind of tactic that I currently align with, Zelensky added.
Zelensky recalled that during previous meetings with Trump, they discussed the Budapest Memorandum, security guarantees, Ukraine’s NATO membership, and the role of the U.S. in deterring Russian aggression. At that time, Zelensky felt that Trump could achieve peace through decisive actions and sanctions.
Budapest Memorandum: Brief Overview
In 1994, Ukraine signed the Budapest Memorandum, voluntarily giving up the world’s third-largest nuclear arsenal. In return, the U.S., the United Kingdom, and Russia committed to respecting Ukraine's sovereignty and borders and guaranteeing its security. However, following the annexation of Crimea and Russia's full-scale invasion, Ukraine has repeatedly stated that Russia has violated the agreement. Western partners, including the U.S. and the U.K., have emphasized that they are fulfilling their obligations.