Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he warned Donald Trump during their recent meeting that Russian President Vladimir Putin "plays games" with the White House and cannot be trusted, according to an interview published by The Guardian.

Speaking to reporters in London, Zelenskyy said he told Trump that "Putin is lying. He plays games with you, with the White House." The Ukrainian leader acknowledged that Trump's second term foreign policy priorities have shifted toward Middle East conflicts rather than Ukraine.

Despite this shift in focus, Zelenskyy expressed cautious optimism about the military situation, calling it the most promising for Ukraine in two and a half years. "We can't say Russia is losing this war. But we can say they are losing the initiative each day, day by day," he stated.

Zelenskyy outlined his vision for victory, saying it would come "when Russian society recognises that the war is awful, that the war is a tragedy not for someone, somewhere, but for themselves." He said long-range strikes, including drone attacks on apartment blocks in Moscow and St. Petersburg, are intended to make Russian civilians "feel" the impact of the war.

The interview comes in the fifth year of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, as Zelenskyy continues diplomatic efforts to maintain international support for his country's defense. He expressed gratitude for U.S. military assistance while navigating the changing political landscape in Washington.