Zelensky says Putin needs to ‘manipulate’ Trump amid speak of peace negotiations

President Volodymyr Zelensky stated on Jan. 24 that Russian President Vladimir Putin is trying to "manipulate" U.S. President Donald Trump. Zelensky’s warning got here after Putin expressed willingness to interact in talks with Trump and praised the U.S. chief.

Kyiv reiterated its opposition to any peace negotiations between Trump and Putin on the almost three-year struggle with out the involvement of Ukraine and European companions.

"He needs to govern the will of the President of america of America to attain peace," Zelensky stated in his night deal with. "I’m assured that no Russian manipulations will succeed anymore."

Earlier on the identical day, Putin stated that Russia is ready to carry talks with Trump concerning the struggle in Ukraine. "Relating to negotiations, now we have at all times stated — and I need to emphasize this once more — that we’re prepared for talks on the Ukrainian concern (Russia's full-scale invasion)," Putin advised reporters.

Putin additionally claimed that Trump’s defeat within the 2020 U.S. presidential election contributed to the struggle in Ukraine. "If Trump's 2020 victory hadn't been stolen, there may not have been a disaster in Ukraine," he stated. Putin added that Russia has "by no means refused contact" with the U.S. administration and described his earlier interactions with Trump as "pragmatic and trusting."

The Russian chief additionally referenced a decree signed by Zelensky in 2022, which declared negotiations with Putin "inconceivable" following Russia’s annexation of 4 Ukrainian areas. Putin went on to query Kyiv’s stance: "How can negotiations be resumed if they’re formally banned?"

Zelensky’s decree got here in response to Russia’s unlawful annexation of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson oblasts, a transfer extensively condemned as illegitimate by the worldwide group. Regardless of this, Putin continues to sign curiosity in participating with Trump, fueling issues in Kyiv about potential backchannel discussions that exclude Ukraine and its allies.

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