Zelensky Responds to Trump's Claim That It Is "Easier to Make a Deal" with Putin: "And Is It Easier with Him Than with Putin? It's Easy for Me with Trump"

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy commented during a briefing in Brussels on public statements made by US leader Donald Trump, who earlier called him "not the right person to deal with" and claimed that it is "easier to make a deal" with Vladimir Putin than with the Ukrainian head of state. According to Zelenskyy, Ukraine's priority remains ending the war with Russia through negotiations, and he identified Moscow's position—which he assesses as having no interest in dialogue—as the main obstacle on this path.

Response to Trump's Attacks

Answering a question about the US president's words, Zelenskyy used a mirror formulation: "Is it harder with me than with Putin? And is it easier with him than with Putin? It's easy for me with Trump." He emphasized that during several meetings with the US president, the sides "always found topics for discussion and decision-making," thereby refuting the thesis that it is impossible to reach an agreement with Kyiv.

The Right to Self-Defense and Moscow's Position

Zelenskyy recalled that Russia attacked Ukraine, occupied Ukrainian territories, and "kills Ukrainians," which is why Kyiv has, in his words, "an absolute legitimate right to self-defense." He stated that Vladimir Putin "does not want negotiations in any format" and is merely "playing with words" when declaring his readiness for dialogue, which, in the Ukrainian president's estimation, "looks like a parody of a genuine desire to end the war."

The Risk of a Sanctions Lifting Chain

Separately, Zelenskyy warned that, in his view, capturing the entire Donbas is no longer enough for the Kremlin leader and that his "appetites" are growing after finding a "loophole" in new agreements with the US. He stated that agreements regarding diesel fuel cannot be perceived as an isolated step: "Next will be gas agreements—I am absolutely sure of that. After gas agreements, other sanctions might be lifted. Eventually, this could reach the banking system, individuals, the chemical industry. And another risk… is frozen assets."

Context: The Diesel Deal and Escalation of Relations

As the publication recalls, relations between Ukraine and the United States deteriorated after Washington signed a so-called diesel deal with Moscow. Against this background, Trump complained that Ukraine will not be able to reach a deal with Russia precisely because Zelenskyy is in office, and accused the Ukrainian leader of unwillingness to negotiate. The statements of both sides, delivered during the briefing in Brussels, capture the ongoing public confrontation in assessing who is ready, and to what extent, for negotiations to end the war.