Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, during his visit to Rome, expressed his reaction to former US President Donald Trump's recent comments, where he claimed he could end the war in Ukraine within 24 hours if re-elected. Zelensky, addressing the remarks during a press conference, highlighted the ongoing Russian aggression and the occupation of Crimea and parts of Donbas.
Zelensky, when asked about Trump's assertions, stated, "(When Trump was the US President) there was no full-scale invasion, but there was a war. There was already a Russian aggression. Crimea was occupied, part of Donbas was occupied. I'm not sure if he was deeply involved in this matter, but, nevertheless, he did not solve this issue. I'm not sure it was a priority for him. I am not accusing him of anything. But we have the facts. And we have to look at them."
Trump, speaking at a CNN town hall on Wednesday, voiced his desire to settle Russia's war in Ukraine promptly, stating, "I want everybody to stop dying. They’re dying. Russians and Ukrainians. I want them to stop dying." However, when pressed on whether he wants Ukraine to successfully deter Russia, Trump refrained from providing a direct answer, saying, "I think in terms of getting it settled so we stop killing all these people. I don't think in terms of winning and losing."
Zelensky, further addressing the issue, emphasized that the occupation of two parts of Ukraine occurred during Trump's presidency as well, indicating that no resolution had been achieved. He added, "The issue is not about Trump. He was president; I was president. And two parts of Ukraine were occupied. No one resolved this issue. No one." President Zelensky's response shed light on the complex situation in Ukraine and the ongoing challenges posed by Russian aggression. The Ukrainian government has been actively seeking support from the international community to address the conflict and ensure the restoration of its territorial integrity.