'Sooner': Zelensky's big call on Trump and war

Ukraine President Volodymry Zelensky believes the war with Russia will “end sooner” than it would have now Donald Trump is returning to the White House.

Mr Trump has previously vowed to end the nearly three-year war “in 24 hours” in comments that have cause some international concern.

Now in a new interview Mr Zelensky has said the election of Mr Trump would fast-track and end to the war, which was a “promise” of the presidential campaign.

“It is certain that the war will end sooner with the policies of the team that will now lead the White House,” he said in an interview with Ukrainian media outlet Suspilne.

“This is their approach, their promise to their citizens.”

He confirmed that he had a “constructive exchange” with Mr Trump during their telephone conversation after his election victory.

“I didn’t hear anything that goes against our position,” he added. 

Mr Trump’s odd relationship with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin had stoked fears Ukraine would be forced into a raw deal to end the conflict, potentially by giving up territory to its enemy.

The Kremlin has denied reports Mr Putin and the US president-elect recently discussed the Ukraine conflict during their own recent phone conversation.

Mr Zelensky has on Friday, local time, also criticised German Chancellor Olaf Scholz for taking a call with Mr Putin.

Kyiv responded angrily to Berlin reviving its lines of communication with Moscow. The call had opened a “Pandora’s Box”, the Ukrainian leader said.

“This is exactly what Putin has been wanting for a long time: it is extremely important for him to weaken his isolation,” he said.

A spokesman for Mr Scholz said in a statement said the chancellor “condemned Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and called on President Putin to end it and withdraw troops”.

Mr Putin told the German leader any agreement to end the war “should take into account the security interests of the Russian Federation”, the Kremlin added.

– with AFP.