Putin’s a ‘little bit scared’ of Trump as nations begin peace talks, Zelenskyy says

Russian President Vladimir Putin is feeling a bit apprehensive about President Donald Trump, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. In an interview that aired on Sunday, Zelenskyy revealed that during a phone call with Trump regarding a potential peace deal between Russia and Ukraine, he expressed his belief that Putin is fearful of the American leader.

“I told President Trump that Putin is a liar,” Zelenskyy recounted. “He’s not interested in peace negotiations. I think he’s a little bit scared of President Trump. I believe that President Trump has the strength to push Putin towards peace negotiations, but we must be cautious and not trust Putin’s words about ceasefire.”

Zelenskyy’s comments come after Trump’s announcement last Wednesday that Putin had agreed to immediately start peace negotiations to end the ongoing war. Trump has appointed a team comprising Secretary of State Marco Rubio, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, National Security Advisor Michael Waltz, and special envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff to lead the negotiations between Russia and Ukraine.

During his interview, Zelenskyy expressed his trust in Trump’s leadership in resolving the conflict but emphasized that any deal must involve direct talks with Ukraine. He stated, “I trust President Trump because he’s the president of the United States, and I will work with him with trust. But I won’t accept any deal that excludes Ukraine from the negotiations.”

Zelenskyy also made it clear that he will not accept any decisions made solely by the U.S. and Russia regarding Ukraine. He emphasized the need for concrete steps and a common plan involving all parties to bring an end to the war.

Witkoff, who is part of the negotiating team, revealed that he and Waltz are set to begin negotiations in Saudi Arabia to work towards ending the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

In conclusion, Zelenskyy’s remarks shed light on the complex dynamics at play in the negotiations to end the war in Ukraine. The involvement of key players like Trump, Putin, and Zelenskyy underscores the importance of trust, caution, and a collaborative approach to achieving lasting peace in the region.