Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia speaks only in ultimatums, is lying to US President Trump, and wants to fully occupy Ukraine — while reiterating that any path to ending the war must run through a ceasefire, security guarantees, and diplomacy, in that order. Zelenskyy's Telegram channel published excerpts from his AP interview on 5 April.
Russia's "compromises" are ultimatums — and the demand to retreat is driven by its own losses
"The problem with the Russians is that they love to talk about compromises but never make them. They speak only the language of ultimatums," Zelenskyy said.
Russia cannot occupy all of Donetsk Oblast militarily, so it is trying to use diplomacy instead, exploiting the negotiations pushed by Trump.
"They want us to retreat from our territory that we control. But this demand is explained by their enormous losses. They believe that if we retreat, they won't lose hundreds of thousands of people," Zelenskyy said. "This is true, but we cannot retreat. It would create enormous risks for us. Russia will strengthen its positions in Ukraine and begin preparing for further occupation."
Zelenskyy said Russia is deceiving Trump during negotiations.
"They are lying and playing games with President Trump," he said, adding, "I am one hundred percent convinced that the Russians want to fully occupy us."
His stated sequencing for ending the war: war: stop Russia, then achieve a ceasefire, establish reliable security guarantees, then move everything into diplomacy.
Russia passes Ukraine war experience to Iran — including on targeting civilian energy
Zelenskyy also said Russia has transferred satellite intelligence data on around 50-53 Israeli civilian energy facilities to Iran to help it strike them.
"Of course, all the experience Russia has gained during the war against Ukraine is being passed on to Iran," the Ukrainian President noted, adding: "That was the case with the Shahed [long-range drones] as well — they are the same drones Russia uses, just under a different name and upgraded into newer models."
Iran sent Russia weapons to kill Ukrainians. Now it’s complaining to the UN that Ukraine is teaching their targets to shoot back
Ukraine's Black Sea model: corridor secured, experience available
Asked about the Strait of Hormuz, Zelenskyy described how Ukraine cleared Russia's Black Sea blockade: destroying part of the Russian Black Sea Fleet and using sea drones to organize civilian convoys against Russian helicopters and other offensive means.
"Now the food corridor is under our control and is working," he said. "We can share this experience with other countries, but no one has asked us to come and help with the Strait of Hormuz. Partners only asked us to share our experience."
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