Zelensky Denies Pressure from Trump Amid Ongoing Ukraine-Russia Peace Talks

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has firmly stated that he is under no pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump to make concessions to Russia, even as discussions about ending the ongoing invasion continue. His remarks came after a significant hour-long conversation with Trump, their first since a tense televised exchange in the Oval Office more than two weeks ago.

The call followed growing concerns over Russia’s demands, particularly its insistence on halting Western aid to Ukraine. Ahead of the discussion, Zelensky had warned against making any compromises that could weaken Ukraine’s position. However, after the conversation, he reassured journalists that no such pressure had been exerted on him.

Meanwhile, Trump described the conversation as “very good” and pointed out that it came just a day after Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to temporarily stop attacks on Kyiv’s power plants. While this pause provides some relief, Trump admitted that broader ceasefire efforts remain uncertain, with no concrete peace deal emerging from his recent talks with Putin.

As the war drags on, both Kyiv and Moscow continue to trade accusations over ongoing strikes. Despite the fragile situation, Zelensky indicated that Ukraine might be open to pausing its own attacks on Russian energy and civilian infrastructure. However, the path to lasting peace remains complex, with millions of Ukrainians still enduring immense hardship amid the unrelenting conflict.