Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Paris, 26 March 2025. Screenshot: BBC
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky raised some eyebrows on Wednesday during a panel discussion with journalists in Paris when he praised Europe for having “discipline” and “no chaos”, in what appeared to be barely veiled criticism of the Trump administration, the BBC reported on Thursday.
Speaking to four invited European correspondents on the eve of a summit of the “coalition of the willing” in Paris, Zelensky also said that he hoped Washington would “stand strong” in the face of renewed demands being made by the Kremlin, which, having agreed to a US-proposed ceasefire in the Black Sea, subsequently said it would only adhere to it on the condition that certain financial sanctions on its agricultural sector were lifted.
Reminding his allies to take the threat of Putin seriously, Zelensky said this was “definitely not the time to ease the pressure on Russia or weaken our unity for the sake of peace”. However, he also said that Putin would “die soon”, noting that he was far younger than the Russian leader and quipping “Bet on me, I have the best prospects.”
Zelensky was notably cool when the subject of US President Donald Trump’s special envoy to Russia and Ukraine, Steve Witkoff, arose. Asked about Witkoff’s dismissive comments on Saturday about European attempts to create a “coalition of the willing” in support of Ukraine, Zelensky suggested that Witkoff’s expertise lay elsewhere.
“As far as I know, he knows very well how to buy and sell real estate, but that’s somewhat different,” Zelensky said.
Zelensky was speaking to journalists shortly after holding talks with French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday evening, and said he expected significant decisions to be made at a coalition summit being held in the city on Thursday, which will also be attended by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
