jfid – Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, has delivered a message to former U.S. President, Donald Trump, who claimed that he could stop the war in Ukraine within 24 hours.
Zelensky expressed appreciation for Trump’s support but emphasized that Ukraine is a sovereign nation with the right to determine its own destiny.
The war in Ukraine has been ongoing since 2014, when pro-Russian separatists seceded from eastern Ukraine, declaring unrecognized people’s republics.
Russia also annexed Crimea, a strategic peninsula in the Black Sea, from Ukraine in the same year. This conflict has resulted in over 13,000 casualties and triggered a humanitarian crisis.
Trump, known for his amicable relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin, stated in an interview with Fox News on January 18, 2024, that he could easily end the war in Ukraine.
“I would say to Putin, ‘Don’t do it, Vladimir. Don’t do it.’ And he would respect me,” Trump claimed.
However, Zelensky did not entirely agree with Trump’s statement.
In an interview with CNN on January 19, 2024, Zelensky acknowledged the U.S. assistance provided during Trump’s tenure, including defensive weaponry and sanctions against Russia.
Yet, he added that Ukraine is an independent nation entitled to defend its sovereignty.
“We are very grateful to the U.S. for their support, but we also want to remind that Ukraine is a sovereign country with the right to choose its own path and partners. We do not want to be pawns or victims in political games among larger nations. We aspire to live in peace and freedom,” stated Zelensky.
Zelensky also expressed hope for collaboration with the new U.S. President, Joe Biden, who has shown strong commitment to supporting Ukraine.
Zelensky expressed his wish that Biden could help facilitate the peace process in Ukraine, which has been hindered by disagreements among involved parties.
“We hope President Biden can be an effective and fair mediator in resolving the conflict in Ukraine. We hope he can assist us in pressuring Russia to respect the Minsk agreements, which form the basis for ending the war. We also hope he can help us restore our territorial integrity and sovereignty over Crimea and Donbass,” said Zelensky.
