NBC News Interview
"No Peace Talks Without the Parties Involved"
Volodymyr Zelensky, President of Ukraine, has urged President Donald Trump of the United States to intensify pressure on Russia in order to end the Russia-Ukraine war. He also stressed that Ukraine, as a directly involved party, must participate in the upcoming US-Russia summit in Budapest, Hungary, expressing concern over the possibility of 'Ukraine being sidelined.'
In an interview with NBC News' 'Meet the Press' released on the 19th (local time), President Zelensky stated, "Putin (Vladimir Putin, President of Russia) is similar to (the Palestinian militant group) Hamas, but much stronger," adding, "The scale of the war between Russia and Ukraine is much greater, and the Russian military is the second largest in the world. Therefore, stronger pressure is needed." This interview was conducted right after the US-Ukraine summit held at the White House on the 17th.
President Zelensky said he had hoped for US support in the form of long-range cruise missiles, specifically Tomahawk missiles, to counter Russia's invasion, but did not receive a clear answer during his meeting with President Trump. He explained, "It is fortunate that President Trump did not say 'no,' but today (the 17th), he did not say 'yes' either."
Previously, on the 11th, President Trump had indicated that the United States could provide Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine if the ceasefire process stalled. However, after a phone call with President Putin on the 16th, he stated, "We have many Tomahawks, but we also need them," appearing to step back from the possibility of providing support. President Putin warned that supplying Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine would represent "a qualitatively new stage of heightened tensions."
In response, President Zelensky said, "President Putin is genuinely afraid that the United States will provide us with Tomahawk missiles and that we will use them."
After his call with President Putin, President Trump announced plans to hold a second US-Russia summit in Budapest within two weeks to discuss ending the war in Ukraine. This would be the second face-to-face meeting, following the first summit held in Anchorage, Alaska, in August.
While criticizing President Putin as a "terrorist," President Zelensky also stated, "If we truly want a just and lasting peace, both parties to this tragedy must be involved," emphasizing, "How can negotiations about us take place without us? I am ready to participate in the Budapest summit."
President Zelensky's visit to the United States comes at a time when Russia has recently launched concentrated drone and missile attacks on energy infrastructure across Ukraine, resulting in large-scale blackouts.
He stated, "We are not losing the war, and Putin is not winning either," adding, "Russia is trying to compensate for its weakness on the front lines by intensifying airstrikes. Putin is actually expanding airstrikes and is attempting to attack us this winter, aiming to create an energy disaster."
When asked whether he would be willing to give up part of Ukrainian territory for a ceasefire, he replied, "If we are to stop this war and urgently pursue peace negotiations through diplomatic means, we must hold our current positions and not give anything more to Putin," emphasizing, "Peace negotiations cannot take place under missiles and drones."
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