Zelenskyy says US must not forget its strength in negotiations with Russia

What happened

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told Reuters in an interview, excerpts of which he shared on social media, that the US must not forget it is significantly stronger than Russia in ongoing negotiations. He warned that Russian President Vladimir Putin now seems to believe he alone can decide outcomes in talks between the two countries.

Zelenskyy expressed trust in the US desire to end Russia’s war but cautioned it is difficult to halt a party unwilling to stop. He criticised attempts to find compromises with Russia, saying such efforts risk losing time, as Putin manipulates the process in pursuit of his own aims.

He also commented on former President Donald Trump’s intention to secure a political victory before the 2026 midterm elections, suggesting that Putin would encourage Iranian obstruction to make negotiations ‘non-negotiable.’ Zelenskyy said Putin’s perception that he controls what is granted in talks is problematic, stressing that America’s leverage over Russia is overwhelmingly stronger and must be remembered.

Known from the source

• Volodymyr Zelenskyy gave an interview to Reuters discussing US-Russia negotiations.
• Zelenskyy posted an excerpt of the interview on social media.
• Zelenskyy said Putin has begun to think he decides outcomes in negotiations.
• Zelenskyy stated the US is much stronger than Russia in negotiations.
• Zelenskyy said negotiating compromises with Russia risks losing time.

What remains unclear

Earlier media reports cited by the source mention ongoing US-Russia negotiations over business deals involving Russian energy giant Lukoil and proposals to ease sanctions in exchange for prisoner releases, though these details remain unconfirmed by Zelenskyy or official sources in this report.

What remains unclear: Verify the full accurate context and translation of Zelenskyy’s interview with Reuters. Confirm the current status of any US-Russia negotiations on business deals or sanctions referenced by third-party reports. Check if there have been official US or Kremlin statements regarding the strength dynamics described by Zelenskyy. Ensure attribution is clear that details about Lukoil deals and sanctions easing come from prior media reports, not from Zelenskyy’s statements in the supplied source.

Evidence note

Outside Brief has kept this brief source-led and attributed. Claims should be read alongside the original source linked below.

Original source: Ukrainska Pravda English. Open the source.