Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said he believes the war in Ukraine will “end sooner” with Donald Trump as US president than it otherwise would have, and stressed the importance of doing “everything so that this war ends through diplomatic means next year”, independent news outlet Strana.ua reported on Saturday.

Speaking in an interview with Ukrainian Radio that was broadcast on Saturday, Zelensky said that the situation in eastern Ukraine was difficult at present, with Russian forces making gains and Vladimir Putin apparently uninterested in a peace deal.

When asked whether Trump had demanded that Ukraine participate in negotiations with Russia, Zelensky replied: “We are an independent country. And during this war, both our people and I personally … have shown that the rhetoric of ‘sit down and listen’ does not work with us.”

“A just peace is very important for us. … The war will end, but there is no exact date. The war will certainly end sooner with the policies the team that will now lead the White House will pursue,” Zelensky said.

Zelensky said that he had a “constructive exchange” with Trump when he called him to congratulate him on his victory in the US presidential election earlier this month. “I didn’t hear anything that went against our position,” he added.