They (Trump and Russia's President Vladimir Putin) may have their own relationship, but to talk about Ukraine without us – that is dangerous for everyone, said Zelenskyj.
He added that Trump can get Russia to real negotiations through extended sanctions against Russia's banking and energy sector, as well as through continued support to Ukraine's military.
Zelenskyj received American AP's reporters in the capital Kyiv for an in-depth interview barely two weeks after Donald Trump was sworn in as president in Washington DC.
Kyiv's move follows reports from the Trump administration about direct talks with Moscow and promises to quickly put an end to the Russian invasion war.
President Zelenskyj said that contacts with Trump administration's employees exist.
But we must work more with this.
He hopes that a meeting with Trump can lead to real negotiations with Russia:
We should then be able to find a format... where the USA, Ukraine, and the Russians sit at the negotiating table. And if I'm to be honest, the EU should also be there. I believe it could be fair, effective. But how it will end, I don't know, said Zelenskyj during the hour-long interview.
