Ukraine's Zelenskyy: Russia trying 'to play' game with Trump, stall peace talks

KYIV: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Russia is trying "to play with the president of the United States" successful stalling U.S.-brokered efforts to extremity the war.

In an interrogation with Fox News successful Kyiv, Zelenskyy pushed backmost connected suggestions from President Trump that Ukraine is the 1 holding up the bid process.

"We ever supported peace," Zelenskyy said. "When you are astatine your home, successful your house, connected your territory, successful your city, of people you privation to halt it." Instead, Zelenskyy charged that Russia is attempting to resistance retired discussions, to debar making concessions. "They effort to play with the president of the United States," helium said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is interviewed by Fox News elder overseas affairs analogous Greg Palkot successful Kyiv, Ukraine connected Feb. 25, 2026. (Fox News)

Asked by Fox News if helium thinks Vladimir Putin is playing a game, Zelenskyy replied: "Yeah, I deliberation so. Yeah. He needs to postpone immoderate benignant of negotiations."

Zelenskyy said Ukraine is acceptable to frost the struggle on its existent lines, proposing a ceasefire to beryllium followed by negotiations. But helium said helium would not judge a Russian request for Ukraine to surrender territory the Russian service has not been capable to seizure successful 4 years of fighting.

Fox News spoke with Zelenskyy astatine his offices successful Kyiv, a heavy guarded analyzable wherever the lights are dimmed and sandbags dot the corridors. Among the expansive marble staircases and precocious ceilings, walls are decorated with elephantine portraits of soldiers, lasting immoderate 12 feet tall.

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President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin shingle hands during a property league pursuing their gathering to negociate an extremity to the warfare successful Ukraine, astatine Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, successful Anchorage, Ala., Aug. 15, 2025. (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters)

Speaking 1 time aft the struggle entered its 5th year, Zelenskyy accepted that immoderate successful Ukraine are weary of war. But helium said bid proposals truthful acold are heavy tilted toward Russia's demands.

"Everybody wants peace, and a batch of radical are tired," Zelenskyy said. "But judge me, not everybody is ready... to devour what Putin cooked for us."

The Ukrainian person urged President Trump to sojourn his country, saying: "He volition spot specified a effect of the attacks. And helium volition spot however the federation truly lives. Not conscionable surviving."

Portraits of Ukrainian soldiers are seen astatine the Memorial for the Fallen astatine Independence Square Maidan connected the 3rd day of Russia's invasion, Kyiv Monday, Feb. 24, 2025. (Bo Amstrup/NTB/AFP via Getty Images)

Despite monolithic losses, Zelenskyy hailed Ukraine’s fight. "Russia couldn't and can't inhabit us. They didn't win, and for america it's a victory. We defended our independency and freedom.

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"They didn't alteration the country. They didn't alteration our flag.

"I'm definite that Russia recognized — truly recognizes present — that it was a large mistake."

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