Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that President Donald Trump taking Russian President Vladimir Putin’s side in the war against Ukraine would be a “historic mistake.” According to HuffPost, Zelenskyy said Ukraine would struggle to win the war without American support and urged Trump to be clear about where he stands.
His remarks came as Trump faced criticism over his Russia policy. He then described what a closer bond between Washington and Moscow would mean for Ukraine. “But if the United States will support Putin, I mean, it’s unbelievable. It’s a tragedy,” he said. “It’s a historic mistake and a big tragedy.”
Zelenskyy said he wanted to approach the situation pragmatically. “I don’t want to live in illusions, but I think that we have to be pragmatic,” he said. He tied the outcome to one condition. If the U.S. and Russia stand together, he said, “we will not prevail and we will not be able to stand.”
Trump’s Russia policy draws bipartisan backlash
The remarks follow a move Trump made last week. He signed an executive order that waived recent sanctions and tariffs on Russia, which were set to take effect. The decision drew bipartisan backlash. Zelenskyy has aired similar frustrations before.
Zelenskyy did not say the United States has already switched sides. He spoke in conditional terms throughout the interview. He added that Ukraine hopes the Trump administration will be on its side or, at minimum, “in the middle.” Trump has accused Zelenskyy of being harder to deal with than Putin. Zelenskyy rejected the comparison.
“We can’t compare with Russia,” he said. “We can’t compare me and Putin. He’s aggressor. He occupied us. He killed adults and children, his soldiers. He’s a terrorist. And that’s why I hope that President Trump will be very clear with this position.”
He also said he could not applaud any leader’s decisions or words if they went against Ukraine or supported Russia and Putin. “I can’t applaud any decisions or any words of one or another leader if they go against Ukraine, if they are supportive for Russia, and directly for Putin. He’s a killer. That’s why I’m very honest and open to say that he’s a killer,” he said.
The exchange adds to a tense stretch between the two leaders. Efforts toward a ceasefire have also run into trouble, which leaves little room for a clear path forward. Zelenskyy’s call for Trump to be “very clear” points to some uncertainty in Kyiv about where the White House stands. For now, Ukraine appears to be waiting for an answer.
Published: Oct 20, 2026 09:00 am