Volodymyr Zelensky praises King Charles for getting Trump back on side

Volodymyr Zelensky said that King Charles had helped build relations with Donald Trump and described the British monarch as "very supportive" of Ukraine.

In an interview on Sunday, during which Russian strikes on the country's energy grid caused the lights to twice black out, Mr Zelensky heaped praise on the king.

He said the monarch had played an important behind-the-scenes role in encouraging Trump to support Ukraine more enthusiastically, following their Oval Office live verbal fight in February. During a state visit to the UK in September, Trump held a one-on-one meeting with the king.

Ukraine's president told The Guardian: "I don't know all the details, but I understand His Majesty sent some important signals to President Trump."

He said Trump respected the king and considered him to be "very important", a genuine compliment given - according to him - to very "many people". "His Majesty is very sensitive to our people. Maybe sensitive is not the right word. He's very supportive," Zelensky said.

The Ukrainian leader said he is not afraid ofTrump and that he respects Ukraine's allies. "I understand that everyone is afraid of Trump. Well, everyone in the world. And that's true. And that's the United States of America, and they are the leaders," he told The Guardian.

He added: "I think he is a man, elected by the people. We must respect the choice of the American people. I am also a man, elected by the people. And I think this is how it should be. We are not a threat to the United States. We aren't America's enemy, he added. We are friends, so why should we be afraid?"

According to Mr Zelensky, the current situation should not be seen as Europe being at war with Russia, but rather that "Russia is in war with Ukraine and, hypothetically, with many in Europe." He argued that, after the recent drone incursions, European governments have been too cautious and "afraid of this word 'escalation'", seeing any stronger response as risking confrontation with Russia.

He added that what European leaders regard as "intellectual responses" rooted in law and democratic values are seen very differently in the Kremlin.

"Russia does not appreciate weakness, and it considers any intellectual response, which is how Europe reacts, like sanctions, any non-forceful, intellectual responses, are not about the rule of law. For Russia, it's about weakness," he said.

The president went on to claim that he would welcome the involvement of British troops before any ceasefire is reached, rather than only afterwards. When challenged whether he had actually made such a request to the UK government, Mr Zelensky replied that he had asked for many forms of help, but added that such requests had to be handled diplomatically. He said that allied leaders had spoken about the possibility of deploying troops, but only after a ceasefire.