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| Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky | Photo: AFP |
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of attempting to manipulate US President Donald Trump. Zelensky made the statement on Friday after Putin praised Trump and expressed a willingness to engage in talks with him.
"Putin wants to exploit the US president's desire for peace. But I am sure that no Russian manipulation will succeed," Zelensky said in his daily evening address on social media.
Zelensky further emphasized that Putin, who initiated the war against Ukraine in February 2022, remains committed to continuing the conflict while attempting to influence global leaders.
Earlier, Putin described Trump as a talented leader and expressed confidence that Trump could have prevented the Russia-Ukraine conflict from the outset of his term. While Putin did not provide specifics on when peace talks might begin, he stated that the Kremlin is awaiting a signal from Washington.
Trump, speaking on Thursday, indicated he would meet with Putin soon and reiterated his promise to take swift action to end the war. This development has added to the ongoing speculation surrounding Trump's stance on the conflict and his relationship with Putin.
As the war in Ukraine persists, Zelensky remains firm in his belief that attempts at manipulation will not deter the country's resistance against Russian aggression.