Trump Says He Won't Deal With Zelensky, Calls Kyiv's Early Defense Lucky

US President Donald Trump declared in an interview with Newsmax that he has no desire to work with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, characterizing him as someone who refuses to negotiate with Russia.

Not a Great Fan of Zelensky

Trump said Zelensky is not the right person for the US to be dealing with. He claimed that while Zelensky says he wants to reach an agreement, his actions suggest otherwise. "He says he wants to deal but he doesn't. No, I'm not a great fan of Zelensky," Trump stated. He also suggested a peace agreement with Russia could be concluded without the current Ukrainian leadership.

Defense of Kyiv Called Lucky

Trump revisited Ukraine's successful defense of Kyiv at the start of Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, dismissing it as luck rather than military prowess. The remarks mark a significant deterioration in the US-Ukraine relationship and come as Ukraine faces severe air defense shortfalls.