Explaining the proposal to end the war with Russia, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated that security assurances for Kyiv would be impactful only if aided by the United States, and he wished to meet US President-elect Donald Trump after his inauguration.
Zelenskyy, in an interview by American podcaster Lex Fridman published on Jan 5, stated that Ukrainians are expecting that Trump would force Russia to end the war but forewarned that if the US were to back out from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), then the Kremlin (Russia) would expand into Europe.
“I’m simply saying that if it quits the alliance, Putin will destroy Europe,” he said. Zelenskyy further added that he needs to meet with President-elect Trump to plan a course of action to stop the Kremlin.
In February, it would be three years since Russia invaded Ukraine, and the reappearance of Donald Trump to the White House on January 20 has raised aspirations for a ceasefire deal, but Ukraine is alerted that it might come at a grave price.
Admitting that its allies in Europe would be lacking military strength to counter Russia, Zelenskyy said, “Without the United States, security assurances are not possible. I mean these security guarantees that can prevent Russian aggression.”
During the podcast, Zelenskyy pointed out that Russian President Putin was not interested in diplomatic negotiations to end the war and that the Kremlin would have to be mandated to sign a truce.
Zelenskyy announced that he and Donald Trump were on the same page on the need for a “peace through strength” method to end the war with Russia.
Moreover, Zelenskyy noted that it was up to the United States to decide its future, but if Washington under Trump leaves NATO, it would weaken the alliance and strengthen Putin in Europe.
