‘Pressure Putin, Not Me’ – Zelensky Urges Trump to Stand Firm Against Russia

President Volodymyr Zelensky urged Washington to put greater pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin rather than Ukraine as Moscow continues its full-scale invasion. “Better to push stronger on Putin, not on me,” Zelensky said in an interview with PBS NewsHour broadcast Monday, Nov. 2.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. “It’s not me who is aggressive,” he added. Asked by PBS journalist Amna Nawaz to describe his relationship with Trump in one word, Zelensky replied: “Emotional.” He explained that Washington should take a more pragmatic approach to the war, focusing on Russia’s responsibility for the invasion rather than criticizing Ukraine’s leadership. “Who is an enemy? Who began this war? Putin,” he said. Zelensky also questioned the value of favorable statements about the Russian president and criticized the argument that energy deals with Moscow would necessarily reduce fuel prices in the US. He argued that strengthening Ukraine was essential not only for its survival but also for European security, warning that an emboldened Russia could eventually threaten NATO territory. “So, better to make Ukraine stronger, because we are really defending Europe, not only ourselves,” he said. The comments came after Nawaz questioned Zelensky about Trump’s criticism of his leadership, Washington’s easing of restrictions on Russia and the administration’s recent engagement with Moscow. ‘Because of Putin, they lost their childhood’ In a more personal part of the interview, Zelensky reflected on the impact of Russia’s war on Ukrainian children, including his 13-year-old son, Kyrylo. Other Topics of Interest First-Ever Drills for Post-Ceasefire Ukraine Deployment to Involve 2,800 European Troops France and Britain will lead a multinational military exercise in Poland to prepare European forces for deployment to Ukraine after a ceasefire. Nawaz recalled speaking with Zelensky two years earlier in Kyiv, when his son was 11 and had already begun asking difficult questions about the war. Zelensky said Ukrainian children had been forced to grow up far too quickly. “Because of one person, because of Putin, they lost their childhood,” he said. He described the years lost to the war as a period that should have been filled with the ordinary experiences and joys of growing up. But Zelensky also praised the resilience of Ukrainian children, saying they had become a source of strength for their parents and communities. He said his son, like millions of other Ukrainian children, now understands the realities of the invasion. “He’s 13, but he knows – maybe it’s a pity – but he knows everything about this war, like all the children [in Ukraine],” Zelensky said. The president stressed that his concerns extended beyond his own family to the children of Ukrainian civilians and soldiers across the country. “They are adults. They are clever. They are very patriotic. They carry light in them,” he said. “So they help us to live and survive.” Kyiv Post is Ukraine’s first and oldest English news organization, reporting since 1995. Its international reach – 90% of readers are outside of Ukraine – make it truly Ukraine’s global voice.