Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has raised questioned former U.S. President Donald Trump's assertion that he could swiftly end Russia's ongoing war against Ukraine if he were re-elected in 2024.
In an interview with NBC News, Zelensky also extended an invitation to Trump to visit Ukraine personally and witness the extensive devastation wrought by Russia's invasion that began in February 2022.
In his candid remarks, Zelensky challenged Trump's assertion, stating, "If he can come here, I will need 24 minutes – yes, 24 minutes… to explain to President Trump that he can't manage this war. He can't bring peace because of Putin."
Former President Trump had previously stated in a May interview with CNN that the war might never have occurred if he had been in office when Russia's full-scale invasion commenced in February 2022. He asserted that, if re-elected, he could resolve the conflict within a mere 24 hours, expressing confidence in his ability to engage in diplomacy with both Putin and Zelensky.
During the NBC News interview, Zelensky commended current U.S. President Joe Biden for his visit to Ukraine earlier in the year, emphasizing that Biden gained unique insights into the situation on the ground. Zelensky also reiterated his invitation for Trump to visit Ukraine.
While Ukraine's counteroffensive earlier in the year managed to reclaim a small portion of territory, it was met with substantial resistance, as Russia's fortified defenses extended nearly 1,000 kilometers. A significant portion of Ukraine remains under Russian occupation, and fresh offensives in the east, near Avdiivka and Vuhledar in Donetsk, as well as close to Kupyansk in Kharkiv, have further complicated the situation.
Zelensky acknowledged the difficulty of the current situation but remained optimistic, stating, "We hold the initiative in our hands. You can imagine what a full-scale war or what two years of a full-scale war is like. Everybody gets tired. Even the iron gets tired. But, nevertheless, I am proud of our warriors and of our people, that they are strong… Our people have a strong desire to win."
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