Zelenskyy says waived Russian sanctions are 'strengthening Putin's war against us'

[0:00] Back and joining me now is the president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy. [0:04] President Zelenskyy, welcome back to Meet the Press. [0:10] Thanks so much. Hello. Good morning. [0:13] What are the implications of President Trump waiving sanctions for Russia? [0:19] What's the impact? [0:25] Strengthening Putin's war against us because he feels success. [0:32] He doesn't have any kind of success on the battlefield, especially this year, 2026. [0:42] He lost opportunities on the battlefield and all his operations he lost. [0:50] So we're not successful. [0:52] And because of our army and they've been very strong, our soldiers have been very strong this year. [0:58] Then we really try to build air defense shield to defend our civilians, but always big deficit with patriot missiles and other kind of air defense. [1:13] But in any way, it's understandable that we have something. [1:17] We have support of Americans, have support from Europeans. [1:20] But now I think that this, you know, it's really big support for Putin. [1:34] He feels victory with sanctions. [1:37] And this little deal and then Starlink between us, we have to be very honest. [1:44] So we're always thankful by partisan support. [1:47] But with Starlink, it's not the support. [1:48] Really, it's, I mean, this for today, it's more supportive for Russian aggression, especially for their strikes against our civilians, against our energy projects. [2:01] And we're afraid that the question of Russian gas will be raised and also the question of frozen assets. [2:12] And that's why we say that it's very dangerous. [2:14] This diesel deal is very dangerous. [2:15] It doesn't have influence on the real influence on the price in the United States. [2:21] We understand that the price is because of blocking of Hormuz, Strait of Hormuz. [2:28] I do want to talk about Starlink, which is Elon Musk's satellite internet network with a military version called Star Shield. [2:37] Who do you think specifically is to blame for the disruptions to the Starlink and the Star Shield services? [2:44] Do you think it was a deliberate interruption? [2:53] Of course, the message came from government. [2:56] I don't know from whom, what cabinets and et cetera. [2:59] And I think it doesn't work either way. [3:01] But I don't know really. [3:03] But we think it's not my opinion. [3:06] It's opinion of our generals, of our government. [3:08] And of course, my also opinion, the same, that it was the message from American government to limit this speed. [3:17] And technically, SpaceX did it. [3:20] And has the system been fully restored? [3:24] What's the status right now, President Zelensky? [3:27] No, no, not of course. [3:31] We have a limitation. [3:33] The speed is maximum 161 kilometers. [3:37] Let me ask you, because there are reports that the U.S. has cut off intelligence sharing with Ukraine. [3:44] Is that accurate? [3:45] Has the United States cut off intelligence sharing with Ukraine? [3:51] It was blocked for some period of time. [3:54] And then it was de-blocked by American side. [4:00] We are very thankful for this. [4:01] Now it works. [4:04] Yeah. [4:04] And now it works. [4:08] How long was it blocked? [4:10] And what were the implications of U.S. intelligence sharing being blocked from your perspective, President Zelensky? [4:17] So we didn't see attacks of Russia using ballistic missiles. [4:30] Other information we've got from other intelligence, from Europeans and other partners, we have dozens of countries who help. [4:39] But only the United States has this unique intelligence to say, to tell us, to tell our side when Russia uses ballistic missiles. [4:50] And we didn't get it during ballistic attacks during three days. [4:57] Let me ask you, big picture, about your relationship with President Trump. [5:05] He has made a number of recent statements about you and your relationship. [5:10] I want to play some of what he has said and get your reaction on the other side. [5:15] Take a listen. [5:17] No, I'm not a big fan of Zelensky. [5:19] I find Zelensky to be more difficult to deal with than Putin. [5:23] The president says you are more difficult to deal with than Putin. [5:27] What is your reaction to that? [5:28] I'm very honest with the president of the United States and very clear and very supportive America, because we are strategic partners. [5:50] This is the kind of relations I understand and I respect. [5:53] But I can't applaud any decisions or any words of one or another leader if they go against Ukraine, if they are supportive for Russia and directly for Putin. [6:10] He's a killer. [6:10] That's why I'm very honest and open to say that he's a killer. [6:15] And that's why maybe it's not, maybe it's not very polite and maybe not the things what president of the United States waits for me. [6:27] But I'm better to have partners who are very open and clear than to have those who are killers, even with a smile on their face. [6:38] Do you trust President Trump? [6:40] Of course, we trust America, we trust bipartisan support and we trust President of the United States. [6:52] We want to trust him and I hope that he will change his decisions. [7:00] Because I think that it's all mistakes and it will not help us and it will not help the United States, I'm sure. [7:09] But I mean, it's not my choice. [7:13] And I hope that he will change his decisions, change his attitude to Putin. [7:18] We waited from the very beginning of his presidential term, that he will change his attitude to Putin. [7:27] For us, it's important and essential, absolutely. [7:33] People, I mean, the people want to forget what's going on, but we can't give this possibility to forget or to change reality or to change the truth. [7:43] We never, and it's not, we can't compare with Russia. [7:49] We can't compare me and Putin. [7:52] He's aggressor. [7:53] He's occupied, he occupied us. [7:56] He killed adults and children. [7:59] He's soldiers. [8:00] He's a terrorist. [8:02] And that's why I hope that President Trump will be very clear with this position. [8:07] I hope so. [8:09] Do you still believe President Trump is an ally of the United, of Ukraine? [8:13] I hope so. [8:19] I hope so. [8:21] Yeah. [8:22] Can Ukraine win this war without the United States, President Zelensky? [8:27] Very difficult. [8:33] You know, it's, I mean, it's, it's all about losses. [8:37] It's true. [8:39] It's not about prevail or not prevail. [8:44] It's all about, it's about our people. [8:47] If it's without the United States support, it's very difficult. [8:52] But if the United States will support Putin, I mean, it's unbelievable. [8:57] It's tragedy. [8:58] It's historic mistake and big tragedy. [9:02] That's why I think that, I don't want to live in illusions, but I think that we have to be pragmatic. [9:10] If the United States will take, officially, will take the side of Russia, of course, if these two countries will be together, of course, of course, we will not prevail and we will not be able to stand. [9:23] It's understandable. [9:24] That's why we hope that President, his team will be on our side, minimum in the middle. [9:34] All right. [9:34] President Zelensky, thank you so very much for your time today. [9:38] We really appreciate it. [9:39] Thank you.