Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has claimed that, unlike other Western leaders, he is not afraid of U.S. President Donald Trump. Rejecting rumors of a heated exchange during their recent White House meeting, Zelensky said he has a good relationship with Trump. These remarks came during an interview with British newspaper The Guardian published Sunday (9 November).
Expressing gratitude to the British monarch, Zelensky said King Charles has shown sincere support for Ukraine and played an important role in improving relations between him and Trump.
Zelensky said, “It’s true that everyone in the world is afraid of Trump. But I am not. We are not enemies of America, we are friends. So why should we be afraid?”
He added that Trump was elected by the American people, and this decision must be respected—just as he himself was elected by the people of Ukraine.
Expressing hope that the long-standing strategic partnership with the U.S. will continue, Zelensky said the two countries share common values, which stand in complete contrast to imperialist Russia.
Rumors circulated that during the October White House meeting, Trump threw a battlefield map of the Ukraine–Russia war. Zelensky denied this, saying, “He didn’t throw anything—I’m sure.”
During the meeting, Ukraine requested U.S. Tomahawk cruise missiles, though Washington has not yet approved the request.
According to a report by Financial Times, Trump allegedly advised Zelensky to end the war under terms set by Russian President Vladimir Putin, warning that otherwise Ukraine would be destroyed. Zelensky rejected this claim, saying the discussion was entirely different. The Ukrainian delegation presented a three-step proposal: weapons supply, economic sanctions, and strategies to weaken Russia’s capabilities to bring Putin to the negotiation table.
Zelensky, who has been serving as Ukraine’s president since 2019 and leading the country through nearly four years of full-scale war with Russia, said: “I love Ukraine. It’s hard to explain why. Some things are beyond logic. The war has put Ukraine through tough times, but I want to stay here.”
