Zelensky on Trump’s claim that he can end the war between Russia and Ukraine in 24 hours

(CNN) — For the first time, Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky publicly expressed concern about Donald Trump’s suggestion that he could end the war between Russia and Ukraine within a day if he returned to the White House.

In an interview with the British channel Channel 4 News that aired this Friday, the Ukrainian president described the boast of the Republican favorite as “very dangerous”, based on the fact that Trump did not say what his post-war scenario would be.

Zelensky acknowledged that it was possible that Trump’s statement was just propaganda, or what he called a “political message.”

But he said that Trump, as president, can unilaterally make decisions that don’t work for Ukraine or its people, and trying to push them through anyway, “stresses me out a lot.”

Trump’s tendency to make sweeping foreign policy pronouncements surfaced again in May of last year, when he told CNN’s Kaitlan Collins: “If I were president, I would resolve that war in a day, in 24 hours.”

When asked how, Trump said he would meet with both Zelensky and Russian leader Vladimir Putin, telling Collins: “They both have weaknesses and they both have strengths and within 24 hours that war will be resolved, that war will be over.” “

Zelensky has generally refrained from criticizing Trump, preferring not to lean too much into the divide between Trump-supporting Democrats and Republicans, who have effectively blocked further US funding to Kiev.

The Ukrainian military fires a small partisan multiple launch rocket system at Russian troops near the front line, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine, on July 13, 2023, in the Zaporizhia region of Ukraine.

Earlier this week in Davos, responding to a similar question from a reporter, the Ukrainian leader answered rhetorically how Trump would respond if Putin crossed over to Ukraine — in a scenario in which Trump withdrew all U.S. support — and began threatening NATO members. . invasion

A Trump victory in November is widely believed to be welcomed by Putin, as it would give him, at least, an opportunity to maintain his territorial gains in Ukraine and declare victory.

In contrast, Zelensky has continued to insist that there can be no peace deal that does not include the withdrawal of all Russian forces from lands seized from Ukraine since 2014, including Crimea.

Ukraine’s ability to negotiate toward that outcome was significantly weakened, at least in the short term, by the failure of the summer counteroffensive.

Nevertheless, the Biden administration and the NATO alliance have repeatedly emphasized that Ukraine will not be forced to sign any agreement with Russia, summed up in the phrase: “Without Ukraine, there is nothing about Ukraine.”

When given the opportunity in an interview with Channel 4 News to invite Trump to Ukraine, Zelensky did not hesitate.

Addressing the camera, he said: “Please, Donald Trump, I invite you to Ukraine, Kiev. “If you can stop the war for 24 hours, I think that would be enough (reason) to come.”

“Maybe Donald Trump actually has an idea, a real idea, and he can share it with me,” Zelensky added, looking back at the interviewer.