Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy invited former President Donald Trump on Sunday to visit his war-torn nation. Zelenskyy made this offer during an appearance on NBC’s “Meet the Press” in response to Trump’s assertion that he could end the conflict in Ukraine within 24 hours if reelected.
“I would like to welcome President Trump. If he were to come here, it would take me approximately 24 minutes to explain to him that he cannot effectively manage this war,” Zelenskyy stated, emphasizing that Trump’s involvement couldn’t bring peace due to the influence of Vladimir Putin.
Zelenskyy fell short of explicitly addressing whether Trump would support Ukraine in the event of his reelection in 2024 in response to host Kristen Welker’s inquiry.
The Ukrainian President also commented on a report from NBC News about quiet discussions between the United States and European officials regarding peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine. Zelenskyy indicated that he was not yet prepared to engage in such talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, emphasizing, “We cannot trust terrorists, as they tend to return.”
Additionally, Zelenskyy suggested that American troops might become embroiled in a broader European conflict if the United States fails to provide increased support for Ukraine, as reported by Reuters. He stated on NBC, “If Russia eliminates us, they will target NATO countries, and then you will send your sons and daughters [to fight].”
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President Biden has urged Congress to back a $106 billion supplementary spending bill, which allocates approximately $61.4 billion for Ukraine, $14.4 billion for Israel, $13.6 billion for border security along the U.S.-Mexico border, and about $10 billion for humanitarian assistance.
However, House Republicans, led by the new Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana, have passed their own spending proposal, prioritizing $14.3 billion in aid for Israel while treating Ukrainian aid as a separate issue. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York refuses to bring this bill to a vote in the upper chamber, and President Biden has stated that he would veto it.
When asked if he felt disheartened, Zelenskyy expressed his resilience, stating that he remains strong and full of energy. However, he emphasized that this does not signify a desire to engage in perpetual conflict, acknowledging the high cost of the ongoing battle. He stated, “But we are not prepared to relinquish our freedom to Putin, the despicable terrorist. That’s why we continue to fight.”
Furthermore, Zelenskyy rejected the idea that the war with Russia has reached a stalemate, asserting, “I don’t view this as a stalemate. We have made substantial progress in a very challenging situation. They believed they could defeat us, but that has not come to pass.”
