By Clement Nwabuko
ABUJA (PRECISE POST) – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said Ukraine understands Russian President Vladimir Putin’s mentality better than the United States, citing the shared Soviet history and years of living alongside Russians.
Zelensky made the remarks in a post on his X handle while explaining his differences with US President Donald Trump over the approaches to ending Russia’s war against Ukraine.
He said although he and Trump shared the goal of ending the war, they differed on the instruments required to achieve lasting peace.
“President Trump and I are on the same side when we speak about ending Russia’s war, but we see different instruments for achieving that goal,” Zelensky stated.
According to the Ukrainian leader, his generation’s experience of growing up in the former Soviet Union gives Ukrainians a deeper understanding of Putin’s mentality and the behaviour of the Russian people.
“My philosophy is that Putin is a deeply Soviet person, both in his reality and mentality. We know it because my generation was born in the Soviet Union. When Putin is lying, we feel it,” he said.
Zelensky argued that Ukraine’s historical proximity to Russia provides it with insights into the motivations of Putin, Russian soldiers and civilians that may not be readily apparent to Washington.
He noted that while the United States could engage Moscow on various issues within the broader context of global security, Ukraine had a more direct understanding of the pressures shaping Russian society.
The Ukrainian president also alleged that fear of imprisonment and punishment under Putin’s government influenced the actions of Russian soldiers, arguing that they faced consequences if they refused to participate in attacks against Ukrainians.
Zelensky acknowledged that Trump had supported Ukraine on some issues, while admitting that the two leaders maintained different positions on others.
He said his approach to international relations was anchored in honesty, transparency and direct communication with partners, particularly at a time when Ukraine was facing mounting pressure.
“To speak honestly is one of our weapons, to be open, and to be clear. Not to play games with our partners. This is my rule of thumb,” he said.
The Ukrainian leader vowed to speak more forcefully whenever he perceived threats to his country’s security, describing such an approach as part of Ukraine’s defence strategy.
He added that, as president, he had a responsibility to defend the country through every available diplomatic channel, just as Ukrainian soldiers continued to fight on the battlefield and other citizens worked to sustain the country’s resistance.
Zelensky also highlighted Ukraine’s technological capabilities, particularly its decentralised digital infrastructure, which he said had helped the country withstand repeated Russian cyberattacks targeting its data centres and communications systems.
According to him, Ukraine’s decentralised approach had enabled citizens to retain access to mobile telephone services and the internet despite repeated attacks on its digital infrastructure.
He contrasted this with Russia’s more centralised systems, arguing that Ukraine’s technological resilience had enabled it to develop responses that inflicted greater damage on Russian systems.
Zelensky further explained that Ukraine’s shortage of air defence equipment had forced it to decentralise critical infrastructure and adopt alternative strategies to protect essential services.
He maintained that Ukraine’s responses to Russian attacks were defensive and carried out only after Moscow had struck Ukrainian targets.
