Ukraine needs clarity from the US about steps to put pressure on Russia toward a ceasefire, since European support hinges on it, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said ahead of the G7 meeting in Canada, where he hopes to meet President Donald Trump.
The Ukrainian leader spoke before another swap of prisoners with Russia, the main tangible outcome of recent bilateral talks in Turkey.
“I very much want Trump to take strong steps,” Zelenskiy told reporters in Kyiv late Friday. “It's important for us that Trump stops Putin with sanctions and other steps. This will give a signal to all of Europe, everyone will unite, and we will have this chance.”
Absent sanctions or other steps by the US, “it will be very difficult for us,” Zelenskiy said. “American decisiveness” is the key to ending Russia's war in Ukraine, now well into its fourth year, he added.
Read more: Putin Ramps Up Drone Strikes to Press Kyiv to Accept War Demands
European allies haven't decided whether they can fully support Ukraine without a backstop from the US, Zelenskiy said.
No one has been able to stop Putin. Only Trump remains, he might be able to. But to stop Putin, one thing is essential: he must lose money. Only then will he be unable to expand his army and military sector.
That's why sanctions matter: targeting the banking sector, the shadow…The sense that Washington is wavering on its commitment to push for a peace plan has, in turn, slowed down the work of Europe's Coalition of the Willing allied nations, he said.
“When Europe thinks for a long time, they talk a lot between themselves and doubts appear,” the Ukrainian leader said.
Read more: Zelenskiy Urges US to Stay Engaged in European Security
US and Ukrainian teams are working to set up a meeting with Trump at G7 summit in the Canadian Rockies, Zelenskiy said. He hopes to discuss weapon purchases, peace talks, sanctions and economic cooperation between Ukraine and the US.
The annual gathering of world leaders starts Sunday night and runs through Tuesday.
Kyiv is also talking to US weapons producers directly about purchases, he said.
Ukraine wants to have the commitment of a foreign security contingent on site after any ceasefire with Moscow, saying it will strengthen Kyiv's negotiating hand.
Looking ahead to potential talks with Russia, Zelenskiy said Ukraine doesn't have the resources to restore its 1991 borders — and that is it its compromise.
He reiterated the idea that if a temporary ceasefire is in place, all disputes can be settled via negotiations. But without foreign security in Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin will continue with maximalist demands, he said.
Zelenskiy expects the current round of prisoner swaps with Russia to be completed around June 20 or June 21.
We continue bringing our people home from Russian captivity. This is already the fourth exchange this week.
Many of the guys who returned to Ukraine today had been held captive since 2022. They are warriors of the Armed Forces, the National Guard, the State Border Guard Service,… pic.twitter.com/L9OfwC2A0QA fourth round of exchanges for the week went ahead on Saturday, Ukrainian and Russian officials said. The Ukrainian prisoner exchange coordination office confirmed the return of 1,200 bodies of fallen soldiers. Russia's defense ministry said its POWs had been released into Belarusian territory ahead of their return to Russia for rehabilitation.
Read more: Putin Ramps Up Drone Strikes to Press Kyiv to Accept War Demands
Ukrainian ground forces continue to face expanding pressure, Zelenskiy said, with Sumy in the north and the Kremlin push toward central Dnipropetrovsk region Russia's current priority.
Russia has stationed some 53,000 servicemen near the Sumy region, making incursions of as much as 7 kilometers (4 miles) into Ukrainian territory, he said.
Regarding potential threats when Russia starts joint military drills in Belarus in September, Zelenskiy cited Ukrainian intelligence implying that Belarus and Russia will try to avoid border proximity in the first instance.
Zelenskiy hopes to raise the issue of price caps on Russian oil and broader sanctions on Russian energy with Trump, especially after this week's exchange of air strikes between Israel and Iran pushed oil prices up sharply.
Ukraine worries that increased US aid for Israel may impact support for Kyiv needed for air defense, Zelenskiy said. On the other hand, a likely decline in weapons deliveries to Russia from Iran as a consequence of Israel's strikes is plus for Ukraine.
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