Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the President of Ukraine, has expressed skepticism towards former US President Donald Trump’s assertions about swiftly resolving the conflict in Ukraine. Zelenskyy has responded to Trump’s statements, in which he claimed that he could bring an end to the war within a day of assuming office.
“It seems to me that the sole desire to bring the war to an end is beautiful,” Zelenskyy said, “but this desire should be based on some real-life experience.”
“Well, it looks as if Donald Trump had already these 24 hours once in his time. We were at war, not a full-scale war, but we were at war, and as I assume, he had that time at his disposal, but he must have had some other priorities.”
Zelenskyy has raised concerns regarding the ongoing conflicts with Russia in Crimea and the Donbas, both of which are officially recognized as Ukrainian territories. Despite Trump’s claims of swiftly resolving the war, Crimea has remained under Russian occupation since 2014, throughout Trump’s presidency, while Russian-backed separatists have continued their hostilities in Donetsk and Luhansk.
The Ukrainian President emphasized his desire for a quick end to the war, regardless of the continuity or change of the US administration. He acknowledged President Biden’s comparatively stronger support during the full-scale war, giving credit to him. Trump’s statements about the war in Ukraine have also garnered attention elsewhere. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, seen as a potential Republican nominee, regarded Trump’s claims as exaggerated but praised the underlying intention.
Zelenskyy acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding potential changes in the US administration and their impact on Ukraine, expressing concerns about both positive and negative shifts. However, he stressed the importance of understanding the complex realities of the situation based on real-life experiences.
In his recent remarks, Trump not only advocated for a prompt end to the war but also refrained from labeling Putin as a war criminal. His comments suggested that the United States might be supplying Ukraine with an excessive amount of weapons.
