President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine said he was surprised by President Trump’s shift in position regarding Russia’s war with Ukraine and that he believed that he and Mr. Trump have a “better relation that before.”
His remarks came in an interview with Fox News on Tuesday evening, after Mr. Trump said in a social media post on Truth Social that he now believed that Ukraine could, with financial support from NATO and the European Union, regain all of the territory it has lost to Russia. It was a head-spinning comment considering that only a month ago the president backed a plan to have Ukraine give up land in return for peace.
Mr. Zelensky also said the seeming unwillingness by President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia to take steps toward peace had helped Mr. Zelensky’s relationship with the American president.
“The fact that Putin was lying to President Trump so many times also made a difference between us,” said Mr. Zelensky, speaking with Bret Baier of Fox News. In the interview, the Ukrainian leader presented a cautious optimism about Mr. Trump’s support of Kyiv’s position in the war.
In his post, Mr. Trump said he believes that with the support of the European Union and NATO, Ukraine “is in a position to fight and WIN all of Ukraine back in its original form.”
Mr. Trump’s words were highlighted by the French president, Emmanuel Macron, during his speech at the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday evening. Mr. Macron said he was happy to hear Mr. Trump say that Ukraine, in the war, would “not only hold on, but ensure its rights prevail,” he said.
In an answer to a question from Mr. Baier, Mr. Zelensky said he thought Mr. Trump’s shift on the role of land concessions could play a part in ending the war. “I think so, and God bless,” he said.
The relationship between Mr. Trump and Mr. Zelensky has been fraught. That tension was on full display in February when Mr. Trump and Vice President JD Vance berated Mr. Zelensky during an Oval Office meeting.
But on Tuesday, when Mr. Trump and Mr. Zelensky met on the sidelines of the General Assembly, Mr. Trump praised the Ukranian leader as a “brave man.”
“We have great respect for the fight that Ukraine is putting up,” Mr. Trump said. “It’s pretty amazing, actually.”
Mr. Zelensky said later to Mr. Baier: “I think we didn’t have close relation because we didn’t have — maybe — time,” Mr. Zelensky said. “It’s good we have often phone calls and meetings,” he said referring to Mr. Trump.
While Mr. Zelensky was positive about Mr. Trump’s new supportive stance on the war, he reiterated in the interview that his country is in a “very difficult position.” Since May, Russia has captured between 170 and 215 square miles of territory each month, according to DeepState, a group mapping battlefield changes. Ukrainian commanders emphasize in interviews that they are constantly outmanned and outgunned by Russia.
Catherine Porter contributed reporting.
Pranav Baskar is an international reporter and a member of the 2025-26 Times Fellowship class, a program for journalists early in their careers.
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