Nothing personal between me and Trump, Zelensky tells CNN

Zelensky says dispute with Trump is not personal as Ukraine presses case against easing Russia pressure

Healfromzero.com – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has sought to lower the temperature in Kyiv’s strained relationship with Donald Trump while arguing that any softer approach toward Moscow could encourage Vladimir Putin to prolong the war.

Speaking from Kyiv on Thursday, Zelensky said disagreements with the US president should not be viewed as a clash of personalities. His central concern, he said, is the effect that lifting sanctions or restoring economic ties could have on Russia’s ability to continue its invasion.

“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.”

The remarks followed weeks of worsening tension between Washington and Kyiv. Ukraine reacted sharply after Trump announced an agreement to purchase Russian fuel, a move that disrupted the broader international effort to isolate Russia economically. Trump also waived some sanctions on Russia, drawing objections from members of his own political party.

At the same time, Ukrainian forces faced limits on access to Starlink, the satellite communications service run by Elon Musk. Kyiv also raised concerns over intelligence sharing involving incoming Russian missile attacks, slower Starlink operations and delayed weapons deliveries. Those issues underscored how heavily battlefield resilience can depend on support decisions made outside Ukraine.

Diplomatic activity continues despite deep mistrust

Zelensky’s comments came as Trump’s representatives renewed efforts to end a conflict now in its fourth and a half year. US special envoy Steve Witkoff met Putin in St. Petersburg for three hours on Wednesday, one day after meeting Zelensky in Oslo.

Witkoff’s description of Putin as a “humanitarian” after the release of 74-year-old American prisoner Stephen Hubbard prompted controversy. Trump defended his approach, arguing that stronger sanctions could have harmed Hubbard’s chances of leaving Russian custody.

“You could forget about him, you’d never see him again, he’d be back in jail for 25 years,” Trump said when asked about the issue.

Trump also maintained that imposing additional sanctions at a delicate stage could undermine the possibility of a settlement in Ukraine.

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

Zelensky described his Oslo meeting with Witkoff as productive, but made clear that he remains unconvinced Putin is genuinely prepared to end the fighting. Following Witkoff’s visit, Putin agreed to talks in November but gave little detail about what those discussions would involve.

“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.”

Missile and drone attacks sharpen the stakes

The debate over diplomacy unfolded as Russia continued its military campaign. A wave of strikes hit Kyiv from Wednesday evening into early Thursday, killing one person and injuring at least 22 others, local emergency services said.

The attacks involved hundreds of drones and ballistic missiles, arriving only hours after Putin agreed to fresh peace talks. The timing highlighted the gap between diplomatic language and conditions on the ground, where civilians remain exposed to repeated air assaults.

Trump said on Wednesday that his administration was closer than ever to resolving the war. Yet Putin has continued to hold to maximalist demands, including demands related to Ukrainian territory. The fate of the remaining parts of Donbas has become a central issue in the negotiations.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the current struggle in talks is focused on what happens in the rest of Donbas, much of which is under Russian control. He said negotiators had considered creative possibilities for resolving that disagreement.

Territory remains Kyiv’s red line

Zelensky indicated that a ceasefire based on the existing front line could be discussed as a way to halt the killings and begin substantive negotiations. But he drew a firm distinction between pausing active combat and accepting Russian control over land Ukraine still holds.

“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.”

For Kyiv, territory is not simply a map question. It concerns communities, sovereignty and the sacrifices made by Ukrainians since Russia launched its full-scale invasion. Zelensky said Ukraine would not recognize occupied Ukrainian territory as Russian.

“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.”

His message combines conciliation toward Washington with a warning about the limits of compromise. Zelensky has left room for talks intended to stop the violence, but he has rejected an outcome that formally rewards territorial conquest. Whether the latest US diplomatic push can bridge that divide will depend not only on discussions between envoys, but also on whether Russia changes its demands and whether Ukraine’s partners continue providing the support Kyiv says is essential for its survival.