Volodymyr Zelensky has admitted he is “not the best father” as he spoke about the personal toll of leading Ukraine during the four-year war with Russia. In an interview with Sky News, the Ukrainian president said his role had taken a significant toll on his family life, but emphasised that his duty was to his country.
“During the war, I'm not the best father... because I don't have too much time for my children,” he told Sky News in an interview aired on Friday. “I'm the president of Ukraine, I don’t compare my job... because my choice... is duty. My choice is Ukraine. That's why I said I'm no good father during the war.”
President Zelensky has previously spoken about the difficulties of being separated from his children, Oleksandra (born 2003) and Kyrylo (born 2013), due to security reasons. In a 2022 interview with Vogue, First Lady Olena Zelenska acknowledged the hardship of the separation during Russia’s ongoing invasion.
In the same interview, Zelensky confirmed that another round of US-led peace talks is likely to take place next week, following a “long” and “peaceful” phone call with Donald Trump on Wednesday. He said the United States has the power to end the war, stating: “The United States is even more stronger than they think about themselves... And they really have pressure on Putin. They can stop this war.”
Asked if he trusts Donald Trump, Zelensky replied: “You know it's more about me and President Trump. It’s not about personalities, it’s more about institutions. We need to trust each other, and that's why I'm trying to build such relations with the United States.” He added that there is a window between now and the US midterm elections in November that is crucial for reaching peace.
