Zelenskyy Urges Trump to ‘Stay on Our Side’ as Ukraine War Enters Fifth Year

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made a high stakes appeal this week to US President Donald Trump, urging him to keep the United States firmly aligned with Ukraine as the war against Russia stretches into its fifth year and the fourth anniversary of the full scale invasion approaches.

Speaking during an interview in Kyiv, Zelenskyy signalled frustration and urgency as peace talks remain stalled and Kyiv seeks stronger guarantees from its Western partners.

At the Presidential Palace in Kyiv, he told CNN that he wants Trump "to stay on our side," arguing that the US, as "a democratic country which is fighting against one person," has an outsized role in shaping the conflict's outcome.

He criticised what he perceives as insufficient pressure from Washington on Russian President Vladimir Putin to end hostilities.

Why did Zelenskyy reject territorial concessions in eastern Donetsk?

Countering suggestions from Washington that territorial concessions or elections might ease the fighting, Zelenskyy emphasised that giving up land in eastern Donetsk, where roughly 200,000 civilians reside, would effectively abandon the people and undermine Ukraine's defence.

"Russia wants (us) just to withdraw our army. We can't be such, sorry, foolish guys. We are not children," he said, underlining Kyiv's refusal to cede more territory in any peace negotiation.

On Tuesday, Zelenskyy marked four years since Russia launched its full scale invasion of Ukraine, declaring that Kyiv has preserved its independence and thwarted Moscow's initial objectives.

In a post on X, Zelenskyy said, "Today marks exactly four years since Putin started his three-day push to take Kyiv. And that says a great deal about our resistance, about how Ukraine has fought all this time," referring to Putin.

"Behind those words stand millions of our people, immense courage, incredibly hard work, endurance, and the long path Ukraine has been pursuing since February 24," he added.

How did Zelenskyy assess Ukraine’s sovereignty amid the prolonged Russia-Ukraine war?

Reflecting on the trajectory of the conflict, the Ukrainian leader asserted that despite the prolonged and devastating war, the country has safeguarded its sovereignty.

"Looking back at the beginning of the invasion and reflecting on today, we have every right to say: we have defended our independence, we have not lost our statehood; Putin has not achieved his goals. He has not broken Ukrainians; he has not won this war," he said.

Zelenskyy added that Ukraine remains committed to securing a just peace. "We have preserved Ukraine, and we will do everything to secure peace and justice. Glory to Ukraine!", he said.

In his State of the Union Address, Trump referred to the Russia Ukraine war and claimed that the conflict would not have occurred had he been in office at the time.

"Working hard to end the 9th war Russia and Ukraine, a war which would never have happened if I had been president," he said.

What did Trump claim about illegal immigration and border control in his speech?

Earlier in his speech, Trump claimed that in the nine months since he became President, "no illegal alien" has been able to enter the United States.

"In the past nine months, zero illegal aliens have been admitted to the United States. We will always allow people to come in legally, people who will love our country and will work hard to maintain it,” he said.

“The flow of deadly fentanyl across our border is down by a record 56 per cent in one year. Last year, the murder rate saw its single largest decline in recorded history. This is the biggest decline. The lowest number in over 125 years," Trump said.

"Tonight, after just one year, I can say with dignity and pride that we have achieved a transformation like no one has ever seen before, and a turnaround for the ages. We will never go back to where we were just a short time ago," he added.

Trump also made significant announcements on energy and technology policy. In a move aimed at balancing the rapid expansion of Artificial Intelligence infrastructure with consumer energy costs, he announced a new agreement with major technology companies to allow the construction of dedicated power plants for AI data centres.

How does Trump’s AI data centre plan aim to protect utility bills?

Trump said the agreements are designed to prevent rising electricity demand from driving up utility bills for households and small businesses.

"Many Americans are also concerned that energy demand from AI data centres could unfairly drive up their electric utility bills. Tonight, I'm pleased to announce that I have negotiated the new rate payer protection pledge," he said.

"We're telling the major tech companies that they have the obligation to provide for their own power needs" so that "no one's prices will go up," the President added.

Data centres already account for a growing share of US electricity consumption and that figure is expected to rise as companies race to expand AI capabilities.

"This is a unique strategy never used in this country before. We have an old grid, it could never handle the kind of numbers, the amount of electricity that's needed. So I'm telling them they can build their own plant, they've got to produce their own electricity," Trump said.

(With inputs from ANI)