Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy struck a cautiously optimistic tone on Tuesday about Kyiv’s relationship with Washington with Trump's latest turn, saying he believes support remains firm despite occasional surprises in messaging.
Speaking in a Fox News interview, Zelenskiy said he was “surprised” by Trump’s earlier comments suggesting Ukraine could fully reclaim all Russian-occupied territory. While unexpected, he called it a “very positive signal” that the U.S. would remain with Ukraine “until the end of the war.”
Zelenskiy suggested Trump’s outlook on the conflict had evolved since returning to the presidency, saying he believed the American leader now understood that Kyiv “can’t just swap territories” in pursuit of peace. He also expressed confidence that Trump’s influence could extend beyond Washington, arguing that Trump “can change” Chinese President Xi Jinping’s position on Russia’s war in Ukraine.
At the same time, Zelenskiy voiced skepticism about Beijing’s current stance, remarking that he did not feel China “wants to finish this war.” His comments highlighted both Ukraine’s reliance on continued U.S. backing and the potential importance of U.S.-China diplomacy in shaping the conflict’s trajectory.
Zelenskiy emphasized that his working relationship with Trump is better than in the past and pointed to the latest remarks as evidence of a shared commitment. “I think Trump’s position has changed,” he said, signaling cautious optimism that U.S. policy would continue to align with Kyiv’s determination to restore its territorial integrity.
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Ongoing U.S. commitment may help steady European risk sentiment, though uncertainty over China lingers.
