Says Donald Trump Doesn't Know Russian President Volodymyr Zelensky: He Never Had A Fight With Putin

President Zelensky visited Ukrainian troops on the front lines. (Source: President.gov.ua)

JAKARTA - Former US President Donald Trump will "fight America" if he chooses to support Russia over Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

In an interview with CNN President Zelensky said he "doesn't understand how Donald Trump got on the side of (Russian President Vladimir) Putin."

"It's hard to believe," he told CNN on February 26.

Trump, who is the strongest candidate for president of the Republican Party in the 2024 Presidential Election, has in the past refused to say whether he wanted Russia or Ukraine to win the battle.

President Zelensky said he believed Trump, who also claims to end the conflict one day if elected, did not understand Putin's goals.

"I don't think Donald Trump knows Putin," President Zelensky said.

"I know he met him, but he never had a fight with Putin. The American army has never fought with the Russian army. Never. I have a better understanding," he explained.

"I don't think he understands that Putin will never stop," he said.

President Zelensky further said Russia spent "billions of dollars" spreading false information about the war, and Russia has succeeded in using disinformation as a weapon in influencing the debate in the US.

"I am surprised that they are strong even in the United States, in the EU (EU), around the world. They spend a lot of money on this," he said.

The inflated number of victims in Ukraine is just one example of how Russia spreads false narratives, the president said.

It is known that Ukraine had a difficult start to the year. They suffered a major defeat earlier this month when troops were pulled back from Avdivka, the city in the eastern region they controlled for a decade.

President Zelensky and other Ukrainian and Western officials said Avdivka was missing because troops did not have enough ammunition to defend it.

He said that without the help of Uncle Sam's country, Ukraine would not only have difficulty getting new progress on the battlefield, but would also have difficulty defending itself this year.

"People will be prepared, but ammunition won't be ready and brigades won't be ready, not just for our retaliatory attacks, they won't be ready to defend, to stay strong. It will be very difficult," he explained.

Time is very important, with President Zelensky saying on Sunday Russia could carry out a new attack as early as the end of May.