In a recently aired interview on Friday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky extended an invitation to former President Donald Trump to visit Ukraine, challenging him to prove his claim that he could “stop the war in 24 hours.”
As the leading candidate for the 2024 Republican nomination, Trump has consistently asserted that had he been in office, he could swiftly bring an end to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Following his victory in the Iowa primary earlier in the week, Trump reiterated his belief that, if elected in 2024, he could rapidly resolve the ongoing conflict.
Addressing Trump’s assertions, Zelensky, in a July appearance on ABC’s This Week, remarked that ending the war at the expense of Ukraine surrendering its territories would not be acceptable. He suggested that if this were the case, even President Joe Biden could have concluded the conflict in a matter of minutes, but such terms would not be agreeable to Ukraine.
Zelensky Challenges Donald Trump to Validate His Statements (Credits: Bloomberg)
During the Channel 4 News interview that aired on Friday, host Matt Frei asked Zelensky directly what he would say to Trump now. Zelensky responded by inviting Trump to visit Ukraine, stating, “Donald Trump, I invite you to Ukraine, to Kyiv. So if you can stop the war in 24 hours, I think it will be enough to come.”
Newsweek reached out to a representative for Trump for comment, but no response had been received at the time of reporting.
Zelensky acknowledged that Trump’s comments about the war were typical campaign rhetoric. However, when pressed by Frei about potential concerns regarding Trump’s reelection and his unilateral decision-making, Zelensky expressed apprehension. He emphasized the potential danger of Trump making decisions without considering both sides, particularly without consulting Ukraine.
Zelensky explained that such statements from Trump were worrisome, as they implied that if Trump’s proposed idea to end the war quickly did not work for Ukraine, he might still pursue its implementation at any cost, a prospect that concerned the Ukrainian president.
In the broader context of the Channel 4 News interview, Zelensky conveyed gratitude for the aid received from Western allies, notably the United States. However, he suggested that there was room for increased assistance to help Ukraine achieve victory in the ongoing conflict.
