Zelensky speaks to US envoys amid Trump spat after warning US not to side with Russia

Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky spoke to US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in the midst of his spat with US President Donald Trump on Sunday, saying “a lot depends on America” as he earlier warned Washington not to side with Moscow in Europe’s worst conflict since World War II.

The wartime leader spoke to the US officials as both Russia and Ukraine hit each other’s energy sites, with Moscow leaving thousands without power and Kyiv carrying out the largest drone attack on St Petersburg since the start of the 2022 war.

Trump and Zelensky have clashed as the US leader blocked new sanctions on Russia and struck a diesel deal with Moscow, fuelling fears in Kyiv and Europe that the White House was steering towards Moscow.

After speaking to Trump’s business partner Witkoff and son-in-law Kushner, Zelensky said “a lot depends” on the US position in the war but that “it is clear that there are many things that matter to all of us and that this war must be brought to an end”.