President Zelensky said Ukraine only received around $75 billion of the $177 billion in aid sent by the United States.
"I don't know where all this money is," said Zelensky.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with The Associated Press, Zelenskyy said the contacts were held at the level of Trump's special envoy, Keith Kellog, as well as national security adviser Mike Waltz and other officials. He described the conversations as “very good” and said they were “all about general things.”
Zelenskyy said a postponed trip by Kellog to Ukraine has not been rescheduled, but he expects it to happen soon.
“It is important for us that this happens in the coming weeks, the nearest dates,” he said. Zelenskyy said direct talks between the US and Russia about the war in Ukraine that exclude Kyiv are “very dangerous.”
“They may have their own relations, but talking about Ukraine without us — it is dangerous for everyone,” Zelenskyy said.
Zelenskyy’s remarks followed comments Friday by Trump, who said American and Russian officials were “already talking” about ending the war.
In an initial phone call with Trump during the presidential campaign, Zelenskyy said, the two agreed that if Trump won, they would meet to discuss the steps needed to end the war. But a planned visit by Trump's Ukraine envoy, Keith Kellogg, was postponed “for legal reasons” Zelenskyy said. That was followed by a sudden foreign aid freeze that effectively caused Ukrainian organizations to halt projects.
“I believe that, first and foremost, we (must) hold a meeting with him, and that is important. And that is, by the way, something that everyone in Europe wants," Zelenskyy said, referring to "a common vision of a quick end to the war.” After the conversation with Trump, "we should move on to some kind of format of conversation with Russians. And I would like to see the United States of America, Ukraine and the Russians at the negotiating table. ... And, to be honest, a European Union voice should also be there. I think it would be fair, effective. But how will it turn out? I don't know.” Zelenskyy cautioned against allowing Putin to take “control" over the war, an apparent reference to Russia's repeated threats of escalation during President Joe Biden's administration.
Without security guarantees from Ukraine's allies, Zelenskyy said, any deal struck with Russia would only serve as a precursor to future aggression. Membership in the NATO alliance, a longstanding wish for Kyiv that Moscow has categorically rejected, is still Zelenskyy's top choice.
(With agency inputs)
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