America News Agency

Putin emphasized that, unlike European leaders, Trump has "free hands" regarding the situation in Ukraine, stating, "He doesn't just say what he thinks; he does what he wants. This is the privilege of being the leader of a great power."

The Russian president mentioned that he has not yet discussed the ultimate resolution of the conflict with Trump but that Russia and the US need to take the first step to build mutual trust.

He stated that Russia wants to achieve peace as quickly as possible, but Zelensky is an obstacle to this goal: "Trump's initiative to improve the political situation in Ukraine benefits Ukraine itself more than Russia. Russia does not oppose Ukraine's statehood, but the region should not be used as a hostile springboard against us."

Putin also noted that Zelensky has become a "toxic figure" for the Ukrainian Armed Forces as he issues "absurd orders" dictated by political rather than military concerns, resulting in unjustified, catastrophic losses.

He accused Zelensky of avoiding peace negotiations because, once martial law is lifted, he will have to face elections. "According to Russian data, Zelensky's rating is twice as low as Zaluzhny's. His chances of winning the election are zero," Putin added.