KYIV, Ukraine (AFP) — President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed optimism in an interview published Sunday that “strong” incoming US President Donald Trump will be able to force Russia into peace talks and end the war in Ukraine.

In a three-hour discussion with US podcaster Lex Fridman, Zelensky said the Republican president-elect will be vital to guaranteeing Ukraine’s security, opening the way for a negotiated settlement also backed by European nations.

“Trump and I will come to an agreement and… offer strong security guarantees, together with Europe, and then we can talk to the russians,” zelensky said, according to the published translation of the interview held in kyiv over the New Year.

“We and Trump come first, and Europe will support Ukraine’s position,” he said.

Trump has frequently mocked Zelensky as a “salesman”, while raising eyebrows in Washington by rarely criticising Russian President Vladimir Putin — and even speaking admiringly of the Kremlin leader.

Trump said during his election campaign that he would bring peace to Ukraine immediately, although he has not said how. He has strongly criticised the massive military aid sent to Ukraine under President Joe Biden and has raised doubts over continued US involvement in the Western military alliance NATO.

However, Zelensky was full of praise for Trump, as well as his billionaire adviser Elon Musk, and suggested that the president-elect had the clout needed to at least freeze Russia’s invasion of its neighbour.

“I think that President Trump not only has will, he has all these possibilities, and it’s not just talk. I really count on him, and I think that our people really count on him, so he has enough power to pressure him, to pressure Putin,” Zelensky said.

The Ukrainian president said that European leaders are all waiting to see what Trump wants.

“When I talk about something with Donald Trump — whether we meet in person or we just have a call-all the European leaders always ask, ‘How was it?’ This shows the influence of Donald Trump, and this has never happened before with an American president,” he said.

“This also gives you confidence that he can stop this war.”