Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a 17 July interview published by the New York Post that former U.S. President Donald Trump has the leverage to force Russian President Vladimir Putin to end Moscow’s war against Ukraine, but “needs to feel” the extent of that influence. Zelensky asserted that Putin is unwilling to compromise, and suggested that accelerated, tougher measures by Washington could push the Kremlin to capitulate. The Ukrainian leader contrasted Putin’s position with what he described as shared values between himself and Trump—namely defending family, freedom and the homeland—and pointed to their outsider backgrounds and business experience as common traits. Zelensky added that Kyiv’s rapid expansion of a domestically focused drone industry exemplifies the kind of swift, non-bureaucratic decision-making he believes Trump would understand. Reaffirming his own stance, Zelensky said that after Russia’s February 2022 invasion it was clear that “we’re going to take the fight and stand to the end.” He argued that Ukraine’s ability to resist relies not only on Western military aid but also on maintaining public resolve in both countries, and urged U.S. leaders to sustain pressure on Moscow.