Trump Names Zelenskyy's Only Trump Card in Confrontation with Russia
US President Donald Trump stated that currently, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's only real advantage in the confrontation with Russia is Trump's support. Trump said this in an interview with The New York Times.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Donald Trump on December 28, 2025. Photo: AP Photo/Alex Brandon
Journalists reminded Trump of his meeting with Zelenskyy at the White House, when the US President noted that the Ukrainian leader "had no trump cards" to resolve the conflict. In response, Trump stressed that, in his opinion, Zelenskyy had no such "cards" from the very beginning of the conflict and still doesn't, with one exception:
"He only has one thing: [...] Donald Trump," he said.
The US President added that without his personal involvement, the situation could have turned into a complete catastrophe, and according to Trump, both Zelenskyy, European leaders, and other countries understand this. Trump also expressed the opinion that in his absence, the conflict could have escalated into a third world war, but now, he assured, such a scenario will not happen.
Answering a question about the timeline for ending hostilities, Trump noted that the US is doing everything possible for a peaceful settlement. He admitted that he was disappointed that an agreement between Russia and Ukraine could not be reached by January. According to him, he familiarized himself with a 20-point peace plan, and Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed his opinion on this document.
Trump stated that he considers Putin ready to conclude an agreement. However, he noted that there are situations where an agreement can be reached with one leader, while the other side rejects the proposed terms. In his opinion, both sides may now be ready for an agreement, but this still needs to be confirmed.
At the same time, the US President refused to comment on the possibility of increasing military support for Ukraine if Russia rejects the peace plan. He explained this by his unwillingness to make statements in advance, as he considers it his duty to try and save human lives.
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