Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday reaffirmed his country's trust in the United States while urging President Donald Trump to reconsider his recent policy shift toward Russia, particularly the approval of a diesel trade deal with Moscow. In an interview with NBC's Meet the Press, Zelensky said, "Of course we trust America. We trust bipartisan support and we trust President of the United States. We want to trust him and I hope that he will change his decisions because I think that it's all mistakes and it will not help us and it will not help United States, I'm sure."
Zelensky expressed hope that Trump would alter his approach to Russian President Vladimir Putin, emphasizing that he still views the U.S. as a potential ally. He acknowledged that without American support, Ukraine's ability to win the war would be "very difficult," and he warned that if Washington were to side with Moscow, "we will not prevail."
"But if United States will support Putin, I mean, it's unbelievable. It's tragedy. It's historic mistake and big tragedy," Zelensky said. "That's why I think I don't want to live in illusions, but I think that we have to be pragmatic ... That's why we hope that [Trump], his team, will be on our side, minimum in the middle."
The Ukrainian leader's comments come after Trump authorized a diesel deal with Russia, a move that has drawn sharp criticism from both Democrats and some Republicans. Trump responded by calling Zelensky "not a good guy for us to deal with" and suggested that the war would end soon through a settlement. In an interview with Newsmax, Trump added, "I think they actually both would like to see it end, but I think I find Zelensky to be more difficult to deal with than Putin."
Zelensky reiterated his readiness to negotiate a peaceful end to the nearly five-year conflict, but he insisted that the U.S. should apply pressure on Putin, not on Ukraine. "Otherwise, it's simply unfair," he wrote on social media. His comments reflect growing frustration in Kyiv over what some see as a shift in American policy under Trump, who has sought to broker a quick end to the war.
Top U.S. envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff traveled to both Russia and Ukraine last month to restart talks. Trump recently announced an energy ceasefire between the two nations, though Zelensky said last week that the ceasefire was "news for me" and later resumed drone attacks on Russian refineries. The deal has also raised concerns about global energy supplies, as critics warn of risks for American consumers.
Zelensky has also said the U.S. is working to arrange a trilateral meeting with Putin, possibly on the sidelines of the Group of 20 summit in Miami in December. While nothing has been confirmed, Zelensky noted on Saturday that European leaders are beginning to make contacts about the potential meeting. "We'll see how things turn out a little later," he said.
The tension between Trump and Zelensky has intensified as the war grinds on, with Ukraine relying heavily on U.S. military and financial aid. The diesel deal has drawn opposition from former Vice President Mike Pence, who urged Trump to reverse the sanctions waiver. Meanwhile, Ukraine has continued to strike Russian oil infrastructure, including a record drone barrage on a St. Petersburg terminal.
Zelensky's latest remarks underscore the delicate balance Ukraine must strike: maintaining trust in its most important ally while publicly pushing back against decisions he believes are detrimental to his country's survival. As the war enters another uncertain phase, the question of whether Trump will heed Zelensky's plea remains open.
