Full interview: Zelenskyy says Ukraine 'will not prevail’ if U.S. takes Russia's side

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1:03Welcome back. And joining me now is the president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky. President Zelensky, welcome back to Meet the Press.

1:14Thanks so much. Hello. Good morning. Good morning. Thank you so much for being here. We appreciate it. I do want to start with the latest news. President Trump has signed an executive order waiving sanctions for Russia in direct contradiction to the bipartisan bill signed for Lindsey Graham that he just signed into law weeks ago. What is your reaction?

1:46So it's a pity, of course, because first of all, it's all about the life of Lindsey. He is a great man, absolutely. He was a great supporter of peace and of Ukraine. And he was a dozen times in Ukraine. And, of course, he always supported. At the very beginning, when, you know, not a big number of people trusted that we will stand and we will defend. And we will defend our freedom and independence. He always was on our side and he really believed in Ukraine and was very supportive. And of course, he invested in this bill too much, a lot, support of his friends, centers and congressmen. I'm thankful to all of them who supported this bill.

2:41and of course he invested his life and time because he really believed in Ukraine and always, I mean, he was always on our side. So it's a pity that now it doesn't work, this bill. And I hope that other American politicians will support this bill. And I hope that maybe we will have a chance. What are the implications of President Trump waiving sanctions for Russia? What's the impact?

3:19Strengthening Putin's war against us because he feels success. He doesn't have any kind of success on the battlefield, especially this year, 2026. he lost opportunities on the battlefield and all his operations he lost. So they have been not successful because of our army. And they've been very strong, our soldiers have been very strong this year. Then we really tried to build air defence shields to defend our civilians, But always big deficit with Patriot missiles and other kind of air defense. But in any way, it's understandable that we have something. We have support of Americans, have support from Europeans.

4:16But but now I think that this, you know, this it's it's really big support for Putin. He feels victory with sanctions and diesel deal and then startling between us. And we have to be very honest. So we always thankful by partisan support. But with Starling, it's not the support. Really, it's I mean this for today, it's more supportive for Russian aggression, especially for their strikes against our civilians against our energy project. And And we're afraid that the question of Russian gas will be raised and also the question of frozen assets. And that's why we say that it's very dangerous, this diesel deal is very dangerous.

5:11It doesn't have influence on the real influence on the price in the United States. We understand that the price is because of blocking of Ormus, straight of Ormus. Yes, but so, I mean, let me ask you because you have said you're ready to meet with American negotiators and that you've received indications that a meeting could happen as soon as next week. What are the status of those talks, President Zelensky?

5:49yes we've got the message my negotiation group got a message during direct talks with American negotiation group that they want to meet and I said I accept it immediately and I said not to wait and if it's difficult for them to come to directly to Ukraine I will be in Europe and I'm ready to meet in Brussels or in London because I was visited two cities, two capitals. And I was ready, I was opened. As I understood that American group, that they will be ready on this week. I hope so. So again, I'm very open for this, even with all the difficult circumstances and all the energy challenges. But we know that the way to peace, the most important, to stop the war, the most important.

6:42Any kind of ceasefire is very important, like the steps of de-escalation. So we are ready to meet. And I think that on Tuesday, maybe Wednesday, we will be opportunity to meet. In any way, today, I will have phone call with American Negotiation Group. In some hours, two, three hours, we will have talks about it. Okay. I do want to talk about Starlink, which is Elon Musk's satellite internet network, with a military version called Star Shield. The services provide Ukraine with critical battlefield communications and drone operations. The Telegraph reports Musk approached Trump to slow down the satellite services.

7:25Now, the Trump administration denies that. Who do you blame for the disruption of those services?

7:40First of all, if it will be able to have against Starlink and have the same speed, it will be very helpful. First, for our air defense systems, because we use interceptors, drones with Starlink like interceptors, Iranian jet drones, with high speed, jet drones, which they use against our infrastructure, water supplies, energy, schools and universities. So we hope that they will give us this opportunity. What does it mean? Shahid drone, they have speed 500, for example, 450 or 550, even plus the speed. Yes, kilometers. And that's why we need the same speed to destroy. But now we have, we have, Jakub Mežin, yeah, yeah, now we have, sorry, now we have limitations, maximum 160.

8:48Be clear, 161. Yes, and this is the maximum speed what we have. So we can't destroy Shahids, speed Shahids, jet drones with this. Of course, we use aviation, we use other missiles and etc. to destroy Shahids. But this kind of weapon we can't use. Then it's also about logistics because we used these drones with Starlinks to give water and food to our soldiers who are on the front line. And what is important that we always said that it's not about deep strikes. Because we, oppositely, we asked SpaceX and President Trump to open Starlink on the territory of Russia to give us a chance to destroy ballistic launches of Russia.

9:44Only these goals. So it was close, always close for us. And now the speed is limited. And of course, it's limited by technically it's not a mistake. It's limited because it's a decision. Who made this decision? I don't know. I don't know. I think that this is both decision, really both decision. If President Trump will decide tomorrow or better today, if he will personally decide to lift this decision, it will immediately work as it was before. So just to be very clear, can you put a finger on it? Who do you think specifically is to blame for the disruptions to the Starlink and the Star Shield services?

10:36Do you think it was a deliberate interruption?

10:45Of course, the message came from government. I don't know from whom, what cabinets and et cetera. And I think it doesn't work either way. But I don't know really. But we think it's not my opinion. It's opinion of our generals, of our government. And of course, my also opinion, the same, that it was the message from American government to limit this pit. And technically, SpaceX did it. And has the system been fully restored? What's the status right now, President Zelensky? No. No. No, not of course. We have a limitation. The speed is maximum 161 kilometers, not miles, kilometers. Let me ask you, because there are reports that the U.S.

11:37has cut off intelligence sharing with Ukraine. Is that accurate? Has the United States cut off intelligence sharing with Ukraine?

11:50It was blocked for some period of time. And then it was de-blocked by American side. We are very thankful for this. Now it works. Yeah. And now it works. Yeah. How long was it blocked and what were the implications of U.S. intelligence sharing being blocked from your perspective, President Zelensky?

12:20We didn't see attacks of Russia using ballistic missiles. Other information we've got from other intelligence from Europeans and other partners, we have dozens of countries who help, but only United States has this unique intelligence to say, to tell us, to tell our side when Russia uses ballistic missiles. And we didn't get it during ballistic attacks during three days. Okay. Let me ask you big picture about your relationship with President Trump. He has made a number of recent statements about you and your relationship. I want to play some of what he has said and get your reaction on the other side.

13:14Take a listen. No, I'm not a big fan of Zelensky. I find Zelensky to be more difficult to deal with than Putin. The president says you are more difficult to deal with than Putin. What is your reaction to that?

13:35I'm very honest with the President of the United States and very clear and very supportive America because we are strategic partners. This is the kind of relations I understand and I respect. But I can't applause any decisions or any words of one or another leader if they go against Ukraine, if they are supported for Russia and directly for Putin. He's a killer. That's why I'm very honest and open to say that he's a killer. And that's why maybe it's not very polite. and maybe not the things what the president of the United States waits for me. But I'm better to have partners who are very open and clear than to have those who are killers, even with a smile on their face.

14:37You said earlier this week that you feel betrayed by President Trump. Why?

14:50We always supported the decisions of the President of the United States about ceasefire, even when it was not so, how to say it, not the things what we waited from American side. Yes, we waited always that the United States will be on our side, but even with the position that united states in the middle we respect this decision it doesn't mean that we wanted this but we have to respect and we respect this is the decision of american president but when we speak that america is in the middle it's mean that in the middle not on the russian side that's why my attitude was this way, I said this way and I use such words.

15:39It's true that it's, I mean, it's a very bad surprise for us to hear from media that something was signed by United States and Russia to support Russia with diesel. than to hear from media that there is energy ceasefire. Of course, the most important thing that we can have energy ceasefire, but if it's just words about energy ceasefire and Russia is not supportive, it just words to our side that we can't respond on the energy of these guys, of these killers, and I think it's not fair attitude to us, like to partners. So just to be very clear, you said earlier this week you feel betrayed by President Trump.

16:33Do you still feel betrayed by President Trump, by the United States?

16:45Oh, I don't know all the reasons why President Trump made such deals with Putin. But it doesn't look that all these steps will push us to peace. I think oppositely, it will strengthen Putin in his will to occupy us. And it doesn't help full and it's not helpful. and that's why I think that's why I think that I shared absolutely honestly all my feelings and my feelings sorry my feelings didn't change meaning you still feel betrayed

17:41I'm okay. Do you trust President Trump? Of course we trust America. We trust bipartisan support and we trust President of the United States. We want to trust him and I hope that he will change his decisions because I think that it's all mistakes and it will not help us and it will not help United States, I'm sure. But, I mean, it's not my choice. And I hope that he will change his decisions, change his attitude to Putin. We waited from the very beginning of his presidential term that he will change his attitude to Putin. For us, it's important. and essential, absolutely. People, I mean, people want to forget what's going on, but we can't give this possibility to forget or to change reality or to change the truth.

18:50We never, and it's not, we can't compare with Russia. We can't compare me and Putin. He's aggressor. He's occupied, he occupied us. He killed adults and children. He is soldiers. He is a terrorist. And that's why I hope that President Trump will be very clear with this position. I hope so. Do you still believe President Trump is an ally of the United States, of Ukraine?

19:23Hope so. I hope so. Yeah. Can Ukraine win this war without the United States, President Zelensky?

19:37very difficult. You know, it's I mean, this it's all about losses. It's true. It's not about prevail or not prevail. It's all about it's about our people. If it's without the United States support, it's very difficult. But if the United States will support Putin, I mean, it's unbelievable. It's a tragedy. It's a historic mistake and a big tragedy. That's why I think that I don't want to leave an illusion, but I think that we have to be pragmatic. If the United States will take officially, will take the side of Russia, of course, if these two countries will be together, of course, we will not prevail and we will not be able to stand.

20:29And it's understandable. That's why we hope that the president, his team, will be on our side, minimum, in the middle. President Trump has called for you to step down. Now, you have said that if Russia gave Ukraine 60 days of peace, your country would organize elections. I want to be very clear, President Zelensky, are you willing to step down as the leader of your country?

21:01We need half a year, half a year after this war will end to prepare for elections. This is not only the law, this is the security measures. But it's after the war. I said what we need minimum if we don't have ending the war and if Trump and Putin want me to make elections, of course, first it's a choice of our people. But if they really want, I said, give us minimum 60 days of ceasefire without any kind of other negotiations, just 60 days. And we will try our best to change our law. We will try our best to prepare some infrastructure, some security infrastructure. But trust me, it looks absolutely dangerous and unbelievable because we need fair choice.

21:56We need that our soldiers will have possibility to vote because it's it's it's true They they have to walk because they really defend our country and that's what what I said If you think that I don't want elections is not truth and it's not fair Everybody understand it in the world. I mean the minimum in Europe and I'm showing that United States it's goes Yeah, please. Sorry No, I was just going to ask if there were elections, would you run in an upcoming election if you did get to, if Ukraine did get to a place where it could hold elections?

22:39If it will be during the war, of course, it's my responsibility because I have to defend my country from the very beginning to end this war. President Zelensky, are you confident that Ukraine can win this war ultimately?

23:06Of course, because truth on our side, of course, I understand that during the long war, the attitude to, I mean, to the world victory and to the feelings of prevailing may be different between people, but to save the country, to save independence, to save European choice, geopolitical choice, and to save all our rights. and Ukrainian identity. And I think this is to win. And this is what we have to do. Just finally, President Zelenskyy, what is the state of the war right now? What is the state of the Ukrainian people?

23:55People are tired. It's true because of a lot of attacks. civilians yes under this massive energy attacks on our energy and that's why energy ceasefire is a good step for this collection doesn't mean that it's good only for us it's good for this situation for the war and if we really want to start to end this war this is like first step is not bad so on On the battlefield, Russia lost their operations, but it doesn't mean that we don't want to stop. No, we want to stop because we don't want to lose not only civilians, also our heroic soldiers. That's why the situation on the battlefield is mostly at the same position.

24:41So they can't win us on the battlefield. That's it. Yes, they can, using ballistics, make a chaos. They try to make a chaos in Ukraine, in our capital, and etc. From this side, if partners, United States, will help us with energy, just help a little bit with missiles for Patriots, because I know that there are some different documents and etc. And we wait from the United States to give us some missiles. This is what we need. Then Starlink, just give us back Starlink. And of course, if they will not, we will survive. And we will not stop to defend us even without it. But why? I can't understand for what?

25:32What are the reasons to limit us? Not to defend ourselves or for what? I think it's a mistake. This is where we are. And of course, we need strong leaders who will push Putin to diplomacy. I think this is what we need. We have to focus on it. All right. President Zelensky, thank you so very much for your time today. We really appreciate it. At Jared Jewelers, we know it's about more than fine jewelry. It's the moment they open the box. That smile they can't hide. knowing you chose exactly right because the right gift can bring a lifetime of meaning, a promise, a milestone, a memory in the making.

26:19Make every moment unforgettable. Find great gifts starting at$250. Jared, make the holiday last forever. Shop Jared Jewelers.