Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed regret over his tense Oval Office meeting with President Donald Trump in February, citing his wartime urgency for concrete decisions as the reason for the encounter’s breakdown.
In an interview conducted in Odessa with the Axel Springer Global Reporters network, Zelenskyy revealed that his subsequent one-on-one meeting with Trump at Pope Francis’ funeral in the Vatican was more productive than their White House encounter. As a contrast, that reflects Trump’s shifting relationship with Putin, which has gone from admiration to public frustration.
According to Politico, “We were unable to make certain decisions, extremely important decisions. I don’t know whether America was ready to address these issues or not,” Zelenskyy stated during the interview. He emphasized that their Vatican meeting was “better” than the White House visit, which he described as one that “felt like it lasted a lifetime.”
Relations improve as Ukraine pushes for stronger sanctions against Russia
Despite initial tensions, the relationship between the two leaders has shown signs of improvement. The countries eventually signed an economic agreement for the joint development of Ukraine’s rare earth minerals post-war, a deal that had been temporarily shelved following the problematic White House visit.
Zelenskyy continues to advocate for increased pressure on Moscow, emphasizing the importance of sanctions in forcing Putin to agree to a ceasefire. The Ukrainian president identified Trump as a key figure who could help bring the war to an end, urging him to advance legislation for additional sanctions against Russia.
Trump, who previously pushed Ukraine to negotiate a peace deal involving territorial concessions to Russia, appears to be reconsidering his approach. This shift comes as Putin shows reluctance to engage in serious peace talks while intensifying attacks on Ukrainian cities.
The Ukrainian president will have another opportunity to present his case directly to Trump at the upcoming G-7 leaders’ summit in the Canadian Rockies. Zelenskyy remains hopeful about Trump’s commitment to ending the conflict, referencing the president’s statement about having a timeline “in my head” for taking a tougher stance against Putin.
During the interview, Zelenskyy also addressed Operation Spider Web, a successful drone operation that reportedly destroyed approximately one-third of Putin’s long-range bomber fleet. The drone assault came just days after Trump made comments interpreted as soft on Putin, raising questions about how Ukraine coordinates with allies before striking. While Trump expressed mild frustration over not being informed about the attack beforehand, Putin has reportedly indicated plans for retaliation.
The Ukrainian leader described this operation as marking “a new phase” in the war, suggesting Ukraine’s capability for escalation if peace negotiations fail. However, he emphasized the importance of ending the conflict, stating that all parties must work to prevent further phases of the war.
