Putin Seeks to Manipulate Trump’s Peace Aspirations, Says Zelenskyy

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated that Russian President Vladimir Putin is attempting to manipulate global leaders, including US President Donald Trump, in their efforts to achieve peace.

According to Zelenskyy, this information was presented during a recent meeting of Ukraine’s Supreme Commander-in-Chief’s Staff. The President shared details from a briefing delivered by the head of Ukraine’s Foreign Intelligence Service, Oleh Ivashchenko, who outlined Russia’s military capabilities and Putin’s readiness to continue the war.

“Today, I held a meeting of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief’s Staff. Several issues were discussed, including a report from the head of the Foreign Intelligence Service regarding Russia’s military potential and Putin’s readiness to pursue the war and manipulate world leaders,” Zelenskyy said in his evening address on January 24.

The Ukrainian leader emphasized that Putin’s strategy includes targeting President Trump’s peace initiatives. “Putin seeks to exploit the aspirations of the President of the United States to achieve peace,” he noted.

Despite these efforts, Zelenskyy expressed confidence in the resilience of the international community against Russian interference. “I am certain that no Russian manipulations will succeed anymore,” he added.

In addition to addressing Russia’s actions, the meeting focused on ensuring the supply of necessary resources for Ukrainian forces on the front lines, including weaponry and personnel.

Earlier, US President Donald Trump expressed his willingness to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin “immediately” to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine. Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos on January 23, Trump described the war as a “carnage” and emphasized the urgency of stopping the war to save lives.