On Thursday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy voiced optimism that the “unpredictability” of US President-elect Donald Trump could be a critical factor in bringing an end to the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia, as reported by AFP. Zelenskyy commented, “He’s very strong and unpredictable, and I would really like to see President Trump’s unpredictability apply to Russia. I believe he really wants to end the war,” during an interview with Ukrainian television.
Trump, who will take office on January 20, has promised to conclude the nearly three-year conflict within “24 hours” of assuming the presidency. Zelenskyy has recently suggested that the war in Ukraine could conclude “faster” under Trump’s leadership. “The war will end faster with the policy of this team that will now lead the White House,” he said, referring to the incoming Trump administration. “This is their approach, their promise to their society, and it is also very important to them,” Zelenskyy added.
Since Trump’s election, Zelenskyy has worked to build a relationship with Trump and his team, amidst concerns that the new administration might reduce or stop the vital US military assistance that Ukraine depends on. There had been previous tensions between the two leaders. In July, Zelenskyy responded to Trump’s remarks, stating that any desire to end the war “should be based on some real-life experience. Well, it looks as if Donald Trump had already these 24 hours once in his time. We were at war, not a full-scale war, but we were at war, and as I assume, he had that time at his disposal, but he must have had some other priorities.”
“If we are talking about ending the war at the cost of Ukraine, in other words to make us give up our territories, well, I think, in this way, Biden could have brought it to an end even in five minutes, but we would not agree,” the Ukrainian President added.
However, following Trump’s reelection to a second term, Zelenskyy sent a message of congratulations, expressing his appreciation for Trump’s commitment to “peace through strength.” “I appreciate President Trump’s commitment to the ‘peace through strength’ approach in global affairs. This is exactly the principle that can practically bring just peace in Ukraine closer. I am hopeful that we will put it into action together,” said Zelenskyy. “We look forward to an era of a strong United States of America under President Trump’s decisive leadership. We rely on continued strong bipartisan support for Ukraine in the United States,” he continued. “I am looking forward to personally congratulating President Trump and discussing ways to strengthen Ukraine’s strategic partnership with the United States.”
In the interview on Thursday, Zelenskyy also expressed support for the idea of France sending peacekeepers to Ukraine as part of a possible peace agreement with Russia. However, he stressed that such a move should pave the way for Ukraine’s eventual membership in the NATO military alliance. “We support this initiative, but France alone is not enough. We would not want it to be one or two countries if it comes to this initiative. It should definitely be on the way to NATO,” Zelensky explained, as quoted by AFP.
The Ukrainian President also acknowledged the toll the war has taken on Ukraine’s military, as they continue to face intense pressure from Russian forces on the front lines. “They are pressing and the guys are tired,” he admitted. An AFP analysis of data from the Institute for the Study of War revealed that Russian forces gained approximately 4,000 square kilometers of territory in Ukraine last year, highlighting the significant challenges facing Ukraine’s military, including ongoing manpower shortages and fatigue.
{Matzav.com}