Washington: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called on Donald Trump to increase pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the war in Ukraine, saying Putin is “stronger than Hamas.”

In an interview aired Sunday on NBC’s Meet the Press, Zelenskyy compared the Russian leader to the Palestinian militant group. “Yes, and even more because Putin is something similar, but more strong than Hamas.

It's more bigger war, and he is the second army in the world,” Zelenskyy said in English when asked if Trump should take a tougher stance on Moscow after brokering a ceasefire deal in Gaza.

He added, “And that's why more pressure.”

The comments came after Zelenskyy’s recent trip to Washington, where he failed to secure long-range Tomahawk missiles despite weeks of lobbying. The Ukrainian president had met Trump at the White House, hoping to build on the former U.S. leader’s frustration with Putin following an unsuccessful summit in Alaska.

However, Zelenskyy left empty-handed, as Trump appeared focused on achieving another diplomatic breakthrough following the Gaza peace agreement.

In the interview, Zelenskyy also urged that Ukraine be included in the upcoming Trump-Putin talks scheduled to take place in Budapest. “If we really want to have just and lasting peace, we need both sides of this tragedy,” he said. “Yes, he's an occupier, but Ukraine is suffering and fighting. And, of course, how can [there] be some deals without us about us?”

Shortly after Zelenskyy’s remarks aired, Trump told Fox’s Sunday Morning Futures that the U.S. could not afford to send more weapons to Ukraine.

“We have to remember one thing. We need them for ourselves too. You know, we can't give all of our weapons to Ukraine,” Trump said.

Meanwhile, Moscow has intensified attacks on Ukrainian civilian infrastructure in recent weeks, leaving thousands without electricity and heating as winter approaches.