Zelenskyy challenges Trump's view, doubts Putin's willingness to end Ukraine war: 'I don’t see it'

PALM BEACH, FLORIDA: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has publicly diverged from President Donald Trump’s assessment that Russian President Vladimir Putin is serious about pursuing peace in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Zelenskyy said that he has seen no public indication from Moscow suggesting a willingness to end the war. 

The comments come as Trump continues diplomatic engagement with both leaders around a proposed peace framework. Territorial control and the future of eastern Ukraine remain key unresolved issues.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy challenges Vladimir Putin's willingness for peace

Zelenskyy questioned Trump’s optimism about Putin’s intentions in a 'Special Report' interview with Fox News’ Bret Baier, on Monday, December 29, at 6 pm ET. 

In the clip, Zelenskyy said that he has not observed any signals from the Russian president indicating a desire to negotiate an end to the conflict.

“I don’t see it because, first of all, I don’t hear it publicly,” Zelenskyy said. “He doesn’t speak about peace,” he added. “He says that he can go further. It’s not the signals of peace.”

Zelenskyy’s remarks followed Trump’s meeting with him at Mar-a-Lago on Sunday.

Ahead of that meeting, Trump spoke with Putin for nearly two hours to discuss a 20-point peace plan. When asked by reporters whether he believed Putin was serious about peace, Trump responded, “I do.”

Following Trump and Zelenskyy’s private meeting, the two leaders appeared together at a press conference with their delegations.

During the event, Trump said that he believed Putin wanted Ukraine to prosper.

“Russia wants to see Ukraine succeed,” Trump said, while discussing future reconstruction efforts in the country.

Zelenskyy seemingly appeared visibly uncomfortable during those remarks and briefly laughed when Trump acknowledged that some observers might find the assessment “strange.”

Territorial claims remain central point of dispute 

Throughout diplomatic efforts, territorial concessions, particularly involving the eastern Ukraine region, have remained a key point.

Zelenskyy has consistently said that he does not have the authority to unilaterally transfer land to Russia. 

“It’s their land,” Zelenskyy said, referring to the Ukrainian people. “The land, not of one person, it’s the land of our nation for a lot of generations.”

Zelenskyy said that any decision involving territorial concessions would require either parliamentary approval or a national referendum. 

While Trump suggested that such a move could receive broad public backing as a way to end the war, Zelenskyy expressed skepticism.

“People want peace. Today President Trump said, I saw the polls that 85%, maybe 87, he said, want peace,” Zelensky told Baier in the previewed clip.

“So they agree. I said, yeah, you know, this is our life, 87% support peace. At the same time, 85% are against withdrawing from the east, you know, from the Donbas. It’s been that everybody wants peace,” he added.

Zelenskyy warned that relinquishing control of the Donbas region would pose serious risks to Ukraine’s future.

“All the parties have to understand that the worst way is to go out from the Donbas. It will be big risks for Ukraine. Not acceptable by Ukrainians, not them but just personally and referendum will not be positive,” he said.