Zelensky dismisses Trump’s Ukraine peace promises as unrealistic
3 Min Read
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has dismissed US Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump's claims of quickly ending the war with Russia as mere election rhetoric.
-
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky gestures as he gives a press conference in Kiev on February 24, 2023, on the first anniversary of the Russian operation in Ukraine. (AFP)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has dismissed US Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump’s promise to immediately end the war with Russia, describing it as typical election rhetoric unlikely to come to fruition.
Trump has repeatedly claimed that if he returns to the White House, he would secure a peace deal between Moscow and Kiev “within 24 hours.”
“Just get it done. All right. Negotiate a deal,” Trump said during last week’s presidential debate with his Democratic rival, Vice President Kamala Harris.
Harris responded by accusing Trump of planning to “just give up” on Ukraine, and she proceeded to highlight her own efforts to secure military support for Ukraine.
In an interview with CNN’s “Fareed Zakaria GPS” on Sunday, Zelensky downplayed Trump’s statements, describing them as typical election rhetoric that may not be realistic.
“My position is that election rhetoric is often just that—rhetoric,” he said.
"While acknowledging that Trump’s comments “can make us, all our people nervous,” the Ukranian president noted that a recent conversation with the former president had conveyed a different sentiment.
“I spoke with Donald Trump, and he expressed strong support during our call,” he told Zakaria.
Read more: "Get this crazy war ended now!": Trump
Dive deeper
In April 2022, Kiev and Moscow were close to finalizing a peace agreement in Istanbul, but the discussions were halted following intervention from Ukraine’s Western allies.
Since then, Ukraine has consistently stated that any negotiations must be based on Zelensky’s ten-point peace plan, which requires Russia to withdraw from territories held by Ukraine prior to 2014. Moscow, however, has dismissed this plan as unrealistic.
Last week, Republican Vice Presidential candidate J.D. Vance suggested that Trump’s proposed peace plan might involve establishing a demilitarized zone along the current line of contact and ensuring Ukraine’s neutrality—proposals that align with Russia’s primary objectives.
US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, however, questioned the feasibility of a rapid resolution to the conflict, stating that “anyone who steps forward and says they could solve the Ukraine war in one day from the outside” should be asked, “whose side are they going to be solving it on.”
Moscow has ruled out negotiations while Ukrainian forces remain in Russia's Kursk Region, citing war crimes committed during the early August incursion.
Previously, Russian President Vladimir Putin indicated that he would order an immediate ceasefire if Ukraine were to abandon its NATO aspirations and territorial claims.
Read next: Turkiye reiterates support for Kiev, says Crimea must be returned
