“Zelensky has only one trump card – Trump,” – said the U.S. president

U.S. President Donald Trump said he is the only advantage that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has.

The American politician made the remark in an interview with The New York Times.

Trump first repeated his claim that Zelensky “has no cards” and hasn’t had any “since day one.” One of the reporters then asked what follows from that—and whether Kyiv should therefore give up territory.

“He has only one. Donald Trump,” Trump replied.

According to the U.S. leader, if not for him, the situation for Kyiv “would have turned into a complete catastrophe.” Zelensky and European leaders know this, Trump said.

Trump refused to answer a question about whether he is prepared to arm Ukraine if Russia rejects the U.S.-proposed peace plan or delays agreeing to it.

“I don’t want to say that. I just don’t want to end up in a situation where I have to say it, because I’m obligated to try to save lives,” he replied.

The day before, Trump said the U.S. is making progress toward resolving the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. On January 6–7, American and Ukrainian delegations held talks in Paris. Afterward, the head of the Ukrainian president’s office, Kyrylo Budanov, said the sides had achieved “tangible results.”

On January 7, Zelensky said the war in Ukraine could end within six months.

“We note that the talks have reached a new milestone together with our European partners and, of course, with the U.S. and all participants of the ‘coalition of the willing,’” he explained.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly said that achieving peace in Ukraine requires removing what he calls the root causes of the conflict. Among them, he has cited the “coup d’état” in Ukraine—the change of power after the 2014 Euromaidan—and the “West’s constant attempts to draw Ukraine into NATO.”