Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has expressed doubt over Donald Trump’s claim that he could put an end to Russia’s aggression against Ukraine within 24 hours if he is re-elected in 2024. Zelensky, during an interview with NBC News, also extended an invitation to Trump to visit Ukraine and witness firsthand the devastation caused Russia’s invasion since February 2022.
“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,” CNN quoted Zelensky as saying.
In a previous interview with CNN in May, Trump had claimed that the war would not have occurred if he had been President when Russia initiated its full-scale invasion on February 24, 2022. He further stated that he could resolve the conflict within a day if re-elected. “If I’m president, I will have that war settled in one day, 24 hours. I’ll meet with Putin. I’ll meet with Zelensky. They both have weaknesses and they both have strengths. And within 24 hours, that war will be settled,” he told CNN.
Zelensky also commended US President Joe Biden for his visit to Ukraine earlier this year and invited Trump to do the same. He stated that Biden’s visit allowed him to understand certain details that can only be grasped being present in Ukraine.
Since Ukraine launched its counteroffensive earlier this year, it has managed to regain a small portion of the occupied territory, but has faced strong resistance from heavily fortified Russian defenses spanning nearly 1,000 km. Russia still occupies almost one-fifth of Ukraine and has recently initiated new offensives in the east, specifically in Avdviika, Vuhledar, and Kupyansk.
Zelensky acknowledged the difficult situation but dismissed the idea that the war had reached a stalemate. He emphasized that Ukraine maintains the initiative and that despite the challenges, the Ukrainian people, including the armed forces, possess a strong determination to emerge victorious.
