‘Rational’ Trump, ‘toxic’ Zelensky, and ‘shackled’ EU: key points from latest Putin interview

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The Russian president highlighted Moscow’s strategic positioning on economic, military, and diplomatic cooperation with Washington

Russian President Vladimir Putin shared his perspective on the policies of his US counterpart, Donald Trump, the future of Ukraine’s statehood, and the potential role of Europe in the negotiation process.

In an interview with Russia 1 TV journalist Pavel Zarubin on Monday, Putin dismissed concerns over US-Ukraine resource agreements, criticized Zelensky’s leadership, and framed Trump’s policies as pragmatic and pro-American rather than beneficial to Russia. He also pointed out that European leaders are constrained by past commitments to Kiev, while Moscow remains open to economic cooperation with the US despite ongoing sanctions.

’Toxic’ Zelensky and Ukrainian statehood

Putin described Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky as a “toxic figure” for Ukrainian society, claiming that his irrational orders, driven by obscure political motives, have led to “unjustifiably high losses, if not catastrophic ones.

Putin suggested that if Zelensky, whose five-year presidential term expired in May 2024, were to face new elections, he would have no chance of winning: “His chances of winning are absolutely zero – unless, of course, something is blatantly rigged.”

He argued that Zelensky’s popularity has collapsed and that he is actively avoiding peace negotiations with Russia to maintain his hold on power: “If negotiations start, this will sooner or later lead to lifting martial law. And as soon as that happens, elections must be held.”

‘Rational’ Trump

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Putin suggested that Trump sees Zelensky as an obstacle to stabilizing Ukraine and securing a peace deal: “Trump likely understands that Zelensky is a destabilizing factor. He wants to bring Ukrainians back together, consolidate its society, and create conditions for the survival of the Ukrainian state.”

Addressing claims that Trump’s position on Ukraine plays into Russia’s hands, Putin strongly disagreed: “In the current situation, strange as it may seem, we would be more interested in [Zelensky] sitting there and further corrupting the regime with which we are in an armed conflict. And from the point of view of strengthening Ukrainian statehood, it is necessary to act in a completely different direction – to bring to power those who will enjoy the trust of the people of Ukraine.”

The Russian president also commented on Trump’s political style, rejecting the notion that Trump acts based purely on emotion: “No, of course not. His actions are based on cold calculation and a rational approach to the situation.”

The role of Europe

Putin argued that European politicians are “shackled” by their past commitments and are unable to change their approach to Ukraine without losing credibility: “Unlike the newly elected US president, European leaders are tied to the current regime in Kiev. They are too invested and have made too many promises.”

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He criticized Europe’s reaction to recent US-Russia diplomatic interactions, saying: “Their response was emotional and lacked practical meaning. Instead of addressing real issues, they focus on maintaining appearances.”

While dismissing demands by EU officials to have a say in Russia-US negotiations, Putin acknowledged that European involvement could be useful in broader discussions: “Their participation is welcome, of course. We never refused to engage with them.”

He also noted that Moscow values the efforts of non-European actors, such as BRICS nations, in promoting peace: “Not only Europeans but other countries as well have the right to participate, and we respect that.”

Military and trade relations with the US

Putin responded positively to Trump’s proposal to cut defense spending, indicating Moscow’s openness to negotiations: ”We are not against it. The idea is good: the US cuts by 50%, we cut by 50%, and if China wants, they can join later.”

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Commenting on US trade policies, Putin criticized American sanctions but acknowledged that each country sets its own trade priorities: ”For many years, US trade policy has been tied to sanctions. We consider these sanctions illegal and harmful to global trade.”

Regarding Trump’s shift toward tariffs, Putin said he understood the reasoning behind the move: “Each country determines independently what is beneficial… I can understand the logic—to move production back home, create jobs, force taxes to be paid… But at some point, of course, these actions will encounter certain difficulties associated with inflationary pressure.”

Putin also confirmed that “some Russian and American companies are in contact and discussing major projects” but did not specify details.

‘Rare earths’ cooperation

The rare earth minerals deal that the Trump administration is reportedly pushing with Kiev “doesn’t concern” Moscow, Putin said, emphasizing that Russia is focused on developing its own rare earth sector due to its critical importance in multiple industries.

“We would be ready to offer this to our American partners… if they showed interest in working together,” he stated, clarifying that this applies to both private companies and government entities. He stressed that Russia has significantly larger reserves of rare earth metals than Ukraine, making it a global leader in the field.