Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelenskyy stated that former President Donald Trump’s recent rhetoric directed at Russian President Vladimir Putin, which emphasizes the need for negotiation to end the ongoing conflict or risk facing heightened economic pressure, is “just and fair.”
Zelenskyy expressed in an exclusive interview on “Hannity” that “This is exactly what Putin is afraid of. He doesn’t want a strong Trump supporting Ukraine because it would mean a strong Ukraine.” This statement underscores the tension surrounding the conflict and the implications of U.S. leadership in international affairs.
In a recent post on Truth Social, Trump urged Putin to negotiate a settlement to the war, warning that failure to do so would lead to increased tariffs and sanctions. He wrote, “Settle now, and STOP this ridiculous War! IT’S ONLY GOING TO GET WORSE. If we don’t make a ‘deal,’ and soon, I have no other choice but to put high levels of Taxes, Tariffs, and Sanctions on anything being sold by Russia to the United States, and various other participating countries.”
Since the full-scale invasion in February 2022, Zelenskyy highlighted that Ukraine has regained approximately 50% of the territory previously occupied by Russian forces.
“We would like to achieve a fair end to this war. We are not afraid. Russia is not that strong, but we don’t want to lose more of our lives, men and women,” Zelenskyy remarked during the interview.
‘JUST EVIL’: TOP REPUBLICAN DETAILS RUSSIA’S ‘HORRIFIC’ MASS ABDUCTIONS OF UKRAINIAN CHILDREN
According to United Nations deputy human rights chief Nada Al-Nashif, as of early January 2023, over 12,300 civilians, including more than 650 children, have lost their lives in Ukraine since the conflict began.
Zelenskyy asserted that Putin is not interested in ending the war and that Ukraine will not recognize the occupation of its territories. He called for increased international pressure on Putin, particularly from China, to facilitate a peace agreement, along with broader security guarantees.
“I believe that guarantees from Europe alone will never be enough,” Zelenskyy stated. “The Europeans understand that without guarantees of security from the United States, from President Trump, it will not be sufficient. Putin is not afraid of Europe. Unfortunately, that is the reality.”
SOUTH KOREAN INTELLIGENCE SAYS NORTH HAS SENT TROOPS TO AID RUSSIA’S WAR IN UKRAINE
<pBefore the invasion, Zelenskyy revealed that he personally requested former President Joe Biden and his administration to take preventive measures, including imposing sanctions on Russia as its military buildup near Ukraine’s borders escalated.
He also sought military assistance but was informed that such support would only be provided “if” Russia proceeded with an invasion. “Parallel with that, I was asking the European Union countries, and they could not do it without [the] approval of the United States. So they always look at the leader, the United States, as the leader. So, during the major invasion, Ukrainians were left to fight on their own,” he explained.
“If President Trump has the will to force Putin to come to peace, he can do it,” Zelenskyy concluded, expressing hope that any potential agreement would be substantive and not merely symbolic. “We want him to be on the side of justice, on the side of Ukraine.”