Zelensky

Trump says Zelensky is obstacle to Russia deal, calls Putin ‘cooperative’ in Politico interview President Donald Trump said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is the obstacle to a settlement with Russia and described Russian President Vladimir Putin as cooperative, sharpening his pressure on Kyiv as the war grinds on. “Zelensky, he has to get on the ball, and he has to get a deal done,” Trump said in an interview with Politico. Returning to language he used during a tense White House meeting a year ago — when he and Vice…

Ukraine says U.S.-brokered talks with Russia have not been canceled despite weekend strikes on Iran that President Volodymyr Zelensky linked to the United States and Israel, though Kyiv is weighing a change of venue from Abu Dhabi to Turkey or Switzerland. Zelensky told reporters the meeting, tentatively set for March 5-6 in the United Arab Emirates capital, remains on the calendar but may be relocated “due to the ongoing hostilities.” He added, “If there are difficulties with Abu Dhabi because of missiles and drones, then I…

Zelensky says Druzhba oil pipeline repairs cannot be rushed as Hungary escalates dispute Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky said repairs to the Druzhba pipeline that carries Russian oil to Eastern Europe “are not that fast,” pushing back on European Union pressure and Hungarian protests as a supply outage to Hungary and Slovakia entered a fourth week. Shipments of Russian crude to both countries have been halted since Jan. 27, when Kyiv says a Russian strike hit pipeline equipment in western Ukraine. Slovakia and Hungary…

KYIV, Ukraine — On the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said “Putin has not achieved his goals,” reaffirming Kyiv’s message of defiance as the war grinds into a fifth year. The anniversary underscores the scale and persistence of Europe’s largest conflict since World War II. Russia launched its full-scale assault on Feb. 24, 2022, expanding an eight-year war that began with the Kremlin’s seizure of Crimea and support for separatists in eastern Ukraine in 2014. The…

Zelensky says diplomacy needs ‘justice and strength’ as Russia, U.S., Ukraine open Geneva talks GENEVA — Trilateral talks aimed at ending the nearly four-year war in Ukraine were set to begin in Geneva on Monday as a Russian delegation led by nationalist historian and former culture minister Vladimir Medinsky arrived in the Swiss city around 6 a.m., according to a member of the Russian team. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky framed the diplomatic push as inseparable from sustained pressure on Moscow, saying talks would…

Zelensky announces Feb. 4–5 Abu Dhabi talks with U.S., Russian envoys as strikes hit Ukraine Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Wednesday’s two-day talks among U.S., Russian and Ukrainian envoys will open in Abu Dhabi, describing the latest bid to halt the Ukraine war as Russian strikes again hit civilians and critical infrastructure. “The dates for the next trilateral meetings have been set — February 4 and 5 in Abu Dhabi,” Zelensky wrote on X. “Ukraine is ready for a substantive discussion, and we are interested…

Ukraine says it will halt long-range strikes on Russian energy facilities if Moscow stops hitting its grid, President Volodymyr Zelensky said, after U.S. President Donald Trump raised hopes for a short pause in attacks on Kyiv and other cities amid a brutal cold snap. Zelensky welcomed Trump’s announcement and set a clear condition: “If Russia does not strike our energy infrastructure, generation facilities or any other energy assets, we will not strike theirs.” He said he is counting on Washington to help secure the pause,…

DAVOS, Switzerland — President Donald Trump said Russia and Ukraine would be “stupid” not to strike a peace deal and claimed he will meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Davos on Thursday, even as Kyiv insisted Zelensky remains in the Ukrainian capital. Speaking at the World Economic Forum, Trump repeated his view that both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Zelensky are close to an agreement to end the war that began with Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. “I believe they’re at a point now where they…

Ukraine sends delegation to U.S. for security and recovery talks, eyes Davos signing amid energy crisis A Ukrainian delegation is en route to the United States for talks on security guarantees and a post-war recovery package, President Volodymyr Zelensky said, adding that Kyiv hopes to sign documents on the sidelines of next week’s World Economic Forum in Davos. Speaking in Kyiv alongside Czech President Petr Pavel, Zelensky said Ukraine also seeks clarity from Washington on Russia’s posture toward U.S.-backed diplomatic…

Russia launched a “massive” night-time barrage across Ukraine that killed at least four people, wounded 25 and damaged 20 residential buildings in Kyiv and its suburbs, President Volodymyr Zelensky said, adding a drone also hit the Embassy of Qatar in the capital. The overnight assault combined ballistic and cruise missiles with swarms of drones as temperatures plunged to minus 10 C and power outages spread. Zelensky said Russia fired 13 ballistic missiles, including the hypersonic Oreshnik, and 22 cruise missiles, and…