Zelensky predicts Trump will be deceived by Putin: the whole world will witness his cunning
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky issued a kind of warning regarding the current international negotiation processes, emphasizing that Ukraine's issues should never be discussed without its direct participation. In an interview with Newsmax, published with the support of the Presidential Office, he elaborated on his position and expressed a deep confidence in the intentions of Russian dictator Vladimir Putin to deceive former U.S. President Donald Trump, which, according to the Ukrainian leader, will reveal the true nature of Russian behavior to the entire world. Zelensky emphasized that he does not have the right to tell the United States how to conduct dialogue with Moscow, but stressed the importance of considering Ukraine’s interests during international negotiations. "I have no right to impose my will on the U.S. or any other country regarding their diplomacy. But I firmly believe that Putin does not want to end the war and, in my forecasts, he will deceive Trump. This will become clear to the entire world. This whole story with negotiations is not just diplomacy; it involves fraudulent steps he is trying to pull off, especially if he is under strong pressure. Otherwise, his behavior will be completely unpredictable," Zelensky noted. Talking about Ukraine’s participation in international negotiations, the president highlighted that the country has the right to be among those defining its fate and influencing global decisions. "Discussing Ukraine’s issues without Ukraine is wrong and unfair. We are the participants of this war and its resolution, and making decisions without our involvement violates international norms and justice. Ukraine’s position must be represented, and we have the right to defend our interests in any format," he emphasized. Prior to this, Zelensky already expressed concern about current diplomatic initiatives, including those conducted in Washington. Recently, he hinted that the outcome depends not only on Trump but also on the balance of power in the world, as the former American leader has the ability to influence the Russian regime to understand that any aggression and armed conflict must be resolved differently, and that potential negotiations should avoid false promises and treacherous games. Zelensky is convinced that Putin, aiming to maintain control and gain advantageous positions, may pretend to compromise while actually using such opportunities to gain time advantages and prepare for a new offensive. "He is a master of deception. You will see for yourself, but everyone – the world and the U.S. – is already beginning to understand who they are dealing with. Putin is only ready to de-escalate the situation under strong external pressure. That’s his tactic: to create the illusion of peace and ceasefire while maintaining internal aggression and moving toward his goals," the president warned. Ukraine insists that its interests must be an integral part of any negotiation process to resolve the conflict. Zelensky emphasizes that diplomacy without Ukraine is a violation of principles of justice and international law, and calls on world leaders to listen to Ukraine’s voice, its position, and interests in the search for a just and lasting peace. The president has repeatedly stressed that the current situation requires a clear and unified stance from all international forces. According to him, American leadership must recognize that only direct support to Ukraine can break Russian aggression and stop it from pursuing destructive goals. At the same time, he underlines that any diplomatic steps should be transparent and fair, and that Ukraine will always stand for its interests and its right to determine its destiny. Zelensky’s latest statements reaffirm that Ukrainian authorities sharply react to any attempts to bypass their interests in the search for peaceful resolution, and call on the international community to remain vigilant, uphold the principles of justice and objectivity in resolving the conflict, which has long been consuming Ukrainian land and shifting the global balance of power.