Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has expressed skepticism over the potential of U.S. President Donald Trump brokering a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia, should he be re-elected in November.
Zelensky voiced concerns that Russian President Vladimir Putin would not adhere to the terms of any such agreement, thereby undermining Trump's presidency.
In an interview with The Guardian, Zelensky stated that he had "no strategy yet" for handling a potential second term of Trump's presidency. Trump, the 45th President of the United States, has previously asserted his ability to resolve the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia within "24 hours." He has also criticized the substantial financial resources the U.S. has invested in the conflict.
Zelensky questioned Trump's approach, asking, "Does he want to be a loser President?" This query followed a hypothetical situation in which the U.S. withdrew its aid, allowing Russia to seize control of Ukraine's eastern Donbas region in return for a ceasefire. "Ukraine, barehanded, without weapons, will not be able to fight a multimillion [Russian] army," Zelensky warned.
The Ukrainian leader also expressed doubt about the effectiveness of a ceasefire, labeling it a "trap." He suggested that Putin would likely resume hostilities after a brief pause, thereby diminishing Trump's international standing. "This is not about [Trump] as a person," Zelensky clarified, "but about the institutions of the United States. They will become very weak. The U.S. will not be the leader of the world anymore. Yes, it will be powerful, first of all, in the domestic economy because it has a powerful economy without a doubt, but in terms of international influence, it will be equal to zero."
Zelensky revealed that he had extended an invitation to Trump to visit Ukraine, in order to gain a firsthand understanding of the devastation wrought by Russia. "It would help him understand the situation better," Zelensky said.
Trump, for his part, has consistently expressed his desire to bring an end to the conflict. In November, he pledged that, if re-elected, his administration would resolve the issue before his inauguration.
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