Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has voiced hope that President-elect Donald Trump’s administration will bring the Russia-Ukraine war to a quicker conclusion. In an interview with Ukrainian media outlet Suspilne, Zelensky pointed to anticipated U.S. policy changes as a potential turning point.
“There is no exact date, but with the policies of the team that will now lead the White House, the war will end sooner,” Zelensky said. He reaffirmed Ukraine’s commitment to diplomacy, emphasizing the importance of ending the war next year. “No one wants peace as much as we do,” he added.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia's war against his country will "end sooner" under President-elect Donald Trump's administration. Read more: https://t.co/uXKuUaPkYr pic.twitter.com/uBN18wnPiW
— NEWSMAX (@NEWSMAX) November 16, 2024
Trump, who has been vocal about his intentions to end the war, recently stated on X, “I want to get Russia to settle up with Ukraine and stop this… too many cities are just in rubble right now.” He expressed a desire to broker peace even before taking office, citing the urgency of the humanitarian crisis.
Zelensky acknowledged that Russian President Vladimir Putin might be willing to engage in negotiations under specific circumstances. “For him, this is the destruction of political isolation,” Zelensky said. However, he cautioned that this does not necessarily indicate a genuine desire for peace.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed on Friday that his country’s war with Russia will “end sooner” after President-elect Donald Trump’s win last week. pic.twitter.com/yXlwux1sdj
— The Epoch Times (@EpochTimes) November 15, 2024
Trump has sharply criticized the Biden administration’s handling of international affairs, particularly its withdrawal from Afghanistan. He argued that the perceived weakness of U.S. leadership under Biden emboldened Putin to invade Ukraine, a scenario he claimed would not have occurred during his presidency.
Trump can't force me to negotiate with Russia, because Ukraine is an independent country – Zelenskyy
From the last few years, this independent country was taking help from America and now this statement! pic.twitter.com/FkmMnDvoXJ
— Donald J. Trump 🇺🇸 Update (@TrumpUpdateHQ) November 16, 2024
Zelensky’s remarks underscore a cautious optimism about the incoming administration’s approach. While the path to peace remains uncertain, Ukraine’s leadership is hopeful that U.S. policy shifts will accelerate the resolution of the conflict.
