Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Russian President Vladimir Putin is afraid of the United States. The decrease in the intensity of Russian shelling of Kyiv during visits by American officials, including US President's special representative Keith Kellogg, confirms this.
"General Kellogg arrived, and for two nights in a row there was no massive bombing. This is a very interesting example... even people are already joking that he should be given a Ukrainian passport," — said in an exclusive interview for Newsmax.
Kellogg arrived in Kyiv shortly after Donald Trump announced a new US approach: supporting Ukraine with Patriot missiles and systems and warning of “very tough tariffs” against Russia if it will not stop the war in 50 days.
Russia has officially refused to accept Trump's ultimatum. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said: "Any attempts to make demands, especially ultimatums, are unacceptable to us."
The President of Ukraine emphasized that Putin demonstrates caution precisely when US representatives are in the country. Zelensky notes:
"He is intimidating, blackmailing, creating tension, but not going to full escalation. This means one thing: Putin is afraid of America. I have been saying this all this time, and I have also told the president (Trump - ed.). Whatever it is, Putin is afraid of America. And I am sure of it."
Zelensky also commented on the difference in approaches of US presidents towards the war in Ukraine:
“President Trump is giving Putin a chance to end this war… I really want to believe that if Putin doesn’t draw conclusions, Trump will really apply powerful sanctions that cannot be circumvented and provide us with a real defensive shield that will protect both Ukraine and Europe. That’s the difference.”
He also added that Biden was unable to end this war, but expressed confidence that Trump would be able to do so.
