In a candid interview with Britain's Channel 4, Zelensky invites scrutiny into Trump's approach to international diplomacy. Zelensky, who has been at the forefront of Ukraine's defense against Russian aggression, finds Trump's assertion of being able to “end the war in Ukraine within 24 hours” alarmingly “simplistic” and potentially “dangerous”.
Addressing the issue head-on, Zelensky extended a conditional invitation to the former U.S. president, who is currently a favorite for the Republican Party's presidential nomination. “Donald Trump, I invite you to Ukraine, to Kyiv. If you can stop the war within 24 hours, I think that will be enough for you to come," Zelensky stated, putting Trump's claim to the test.
According to Zelensky, Trump's approach to ending the conflict might necessitate Ukraine making significant concessions to Russia, a prospect he finds unsettling. "(Trump) is going to make decisions on his own, without ... I'm not even talking about Russia, but without both sides, without us. If he says this publicly, it's a bit scary," he added.
Trump has consistently maintained that he could negotiate an end to the nearly two-year-long war, citing his amicable relations with both Russian and Ukrainian leaders. However, Zelensky remains skeptical, downplaying the impact Trump's potential re-election might have on US support for Ukraine. "One man cannot change an entire nation," he remarked.
During a recent speech, Trump reiterated his conviction that Russia would not have attacked Ukraine under his presidency, attributing this to his rapport with Putin. "Putin and I got along well, we got along very well - this is a good thing, not a bad thing," Trump asserted.
Source: RMF24, Channel4