Zelenskyy: ‘Russia is simply lying to Trump’

Referring to Trump, Zelenskyy said: “It’s all in his hands … How strong the sanctions package will be, depends on him. The speed with which decisions are made depends on him.”

Since Trump returned to the White House, he has shown little interest in pressuring Putin, but instead has squabbled with Zelenskyy, culminating in the infamous Oval Office blow-up in late February.

Asked about the incident, Zelenskyy said wryly: “I don’t think it brought us any closer.” He added: “But that was in the past. And today we must do everything we can to ensure that the next meeting in the Oval Office is successful for both countries.”

The U.S. and Ukraine have resumed “constructive” dialogue, including a one-on-one conversation between the presidents at the Vatican in April, which was “friendly,” Zelenskyy said.

With peace negotiations in Istanbul yielding few results and Russia continuing its barrage of Ukraine, Trump signaled frustration with Putin and expressed doubts about Moscow’s willingness to make peace. But after talking with Putin on the phone last week, Trump compared Ukraine and Russia to two squabbling children and claimed the deadline for imposing more sanctions on Moscow is “in his brain.”

Asked if he thinks Trump changes his mind every day depending on whom he has spoken with on the phone, Zelenskyy replied: “I don’t know.”