Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed confidence that newly elected US President Donald Trump is able to help Ukraine "stop Russian dictator Vladimir Putin", Ukrinform reported, quoted by BTA
Zelensky said this in an interview on the national telethon "United News" (United News), in which he said he hopes to meet with the new US president soon after his inauguration on January 20, the Ukrainian news agency said.
"Trump is capable of playing a decisive role in this war", the Ukrainian head of state said, also quoted by Reuters.
"He can really stop Putin, or help us stop Putin. We had several conversations, both during meetings and on the phone. He is strong and unpredictable. I would like his unpredictability to focus mainly on the Russian Federation. I think he really wants to end this war," Zelensky added, quoted by Ukrinform.
"The most important thing is to build relations," he continued, emphasizing that efforts are already being made to establish strong ties.
"Our teams are constantly in touch. There were also face-to-face meetings. My chief of staff was there, our foreign minister established contacts, and our defense minister maintains a separate line of communication," the Ukrainian president said.
He received assurances from Trump that one of the first meetings of the new US president after his inauguration for a second term in the White House on January 20 will be with him.
"Trump told me during one of our phone conversations: "One of the first visits I expect (as president) is yours. The end of the war is my priority and I will make it happen. So I believe that we will meet after his inauguration, Zelensky stressed.
"The war will not end in one day. However, the actual phase of the war can end quickly if Trump takes a firm position," the Ukrainian president noted, according to whom Kiev's forces have thwarted Russia's plans "to occupy Kharkiv, Sumy and Zaporizhia."
"One of the most significant achievements of the past year - in the fall and winter of 2024, was the prevention of three Russian operations to occupy Kharkiv, Sumy and Zaporizhia. "Good job to everyone who got involved, especially our soldiers," Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized.
Ukrinform added, citing the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine, that Russia had mobilized between 140,000 and 180,000 prisoners who fought in the war with Ukraine as of November 2024.
According to the agency, as of November last year, approximately 300-350 thousand people were serving sentences in Russian penal colonies.
"This number is half of the prisoners in the colonies in 2014. The decrease in their number is directly related to Russia's war in Ukraine," the intelligence service noted, quoted by Ukrinform.