Zelensky says Ukraine-US rift is not personal, warns against easing Russia sanctions

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told CNN that the strained relationship between Ukraine and the United States is "not something personal between me and President Trump," while warning that lifting sanctions on Russia would make Vladimir Putin stronger. Zelensky spoke from Kyiv on Thursday amid a bitter rift with the Trump administration, which has included a US deal to buy Russian fuel, waived sanctions, and restricted access to Starlink services. He said Putin is "playing" with lives and does not want to stop the war, though he alluded to freezing frontlines for a ceasefire while insisting Ukraine will never recognize occupied territories as Russian. The comments came as US envoy Steve Witkoff met with Putin in St. Petersburg, describing him as a "humanitarian" for releasing an American prisoner. Trump claimed tighter sanctions would have imperiled negotiations, while Ukraine faces a critical shortage of interceptor missiles despite restored intelligence sharing.