Zelensky: Ukraine Has More in Common With US Than America Has With Russia
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says Ukraine and the United States have more in common than Russia and the United States do, and that Kyiv would like to keep open, pragmatic and honest relations with Washington. He made the remarks in an interview with Italy's Corriere della Sera.
We have always had an important, strong strategic relationship with the United States. Our bilateral track began to develop especially actively during the full-scale war. I am grateful for all the support. But we have always built our relations on honesty, fairness and, above all, transparency. Because if you lie while your people are at war, it hurts very much. So I always wanted to hide nothing and not to lie to the US president. In any case, we have more in common than America has with Russia. Most people in Ukraine and the United States understand this.
Energy ceasefire and air defense
Zelensky added that Ukraine supports a mutual energy ceasefire. If Russia ignores it, he said, partners could supply Ukraine with enough air defense to protect its own energy sector.
If we are told that we must not respond against Russian energy facilities after they hit our gas, electricity, oil — everything. The Russians strike. America cannot stop them. Let us believe that America very much wants to, but cannot. Then, as a partner, I meet President Trump halfway: if they hit us and we cannot answer, which is unfair, but if you need this and you cannot calm Putin down, then give us anti-missile weapons so I can protect our energy. Could not stop Putin — helped Ukraine.
Background
On Sunday, Zelensky accused Trump of trying to pressure Ukraine into capitulating to Russia and of delaying deliveries of interceptor missiles for Patriot systems. Trump, in turn, accused Zelensky of supposedly never having wanted to end Russia's war against Ukraine. On October 19, Trump said he was ready to meet Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping to discuss ending the war, even without the Ukrainian president. More in our Politics section.