Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has called on former President Donald Trump to visit the war-torn country following reports that he would pressure Ukraine to cede land to Russia if he returns to the White House.
Zelenskyy said in an interview with Axel Springer Media on Tuesday that he privately encouraged President Trump to visit Ukraine through an intermediary. Trump has expressed interest in visiting Ukraine, which is at war with Russia, but he has not yet committed, he said.
Last March, Trump claimed he would “resolve” the war within 24 hours if re-elected, but gave no details. Since then, President Zelensky has repeatedly invited President Trump to visit Kiev and other war sites in the country.
The Washington Post reported unofficially over the weekend that President Trump could end Russia’s war with Ukraine by pressuring Ukraine to give up territory currently occupied by Russia, such as Crimea and the Donbas border area. It was reported that he said.
Zelensky told Axel Springer outlet. He was open to hearing President Trump’s war proposals, but was highly skeptical about what he thought Trump would recommend.
“If it’s an agreement to just give up territory and that’s the idea behind it, it’s a very primitive idea,” he said.
“We need a very strong argument. We don’t need fancy ideas, we need real ideas because people’s lives are at risk,” Zelensky continued.
Trump, a critic of Ukraine’s war effort, sparked international concern earlier this year when he said he would encourage Russia to attack NATO countries that have not met their defense spending commitments. He has long threatened to have the United States leave the alliance.
Zelenskiy’s comments came shortly after U.S. lawmakers said that if they don’t pass funding for Ukraine, Ukraine will “lose the war” with Russia. He warned that “if Ukraine loses the war, other countries will also be attacked.”
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) has said for months that the House would consider foreign aid at the appropriate time. But he narrowed his timeline last weekend, announcing that the House would consider aid to Ukraine “immediately” after the Easter recess.
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