As the Russia-Ukraine war continues to rage on, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Donald Trump would risk being a “loser president” if he wins the November polls and imposes a bad peace deal. He insisted that if Trump comes back to power and sets up a peace deal which is not favourable to Ukraine, he could potentially end the US’ role as a “global player”.
In an interview with The Guardian, the Ukrainian leader maintained that he does not have a “strategy yet” for what to do if Trump returned to the White House. He also mentioned that the former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson had approached Trump on his behalf.
Zelenskyy acknowledged that the re-election of Trump could impose a “crushing military defeat on Ukraine. He could cut off support, weapons and money”, and even “make deals” with Kyiv’s partners so they stop deliveries of vital arms.
“Ukraine, barehanded, without weapons, will not be able to fight a multimillion [Russian] army,” he told the British news outlet. “Does he want to become a loser president? Do you understand what can happen?” he added.
Trump’s take on Russia-Ukraine war
If the erstwhile American commander-in-chief beats US President Joe Biden, he is widely expected to cut off the enormous US military support, the Biden administration provided to Ukraine throughout the war. Last year, Trump boasted about his foreign policies and said that he could end the Russia-Ukraine war in just “24 hours”.
While reacting to Trump’s past proclamations, Zelenskyy predicted that Russian President Vladimir Putin would invariably violate the deal even if Trump brokers it. He went on to refer to a future “ceasefire” as a “trap”.
“This is not about him [Trump], as a person but about the institutions of the United States. They will become very weak. The US will not be the leader of the world any more,” the Ukrainian leader averred. “Yes, it will be powerful, first of all, in the domestic economy because it has a powerful economy without a doubt. But in terms of international influence it will be equal to zero,” he added.
‘Sorry for using Johnson as an instrument’: Zelenskyy
When asked if the former British premier spoke to Trump, the Ukrainian leader gave an affirmative response. “I think he tried, and I think he spoke to him. I think so, yes, as far as I know,” Zelenskyy remarked. “I am sorry that I am using Boris as an instrument," he added.
The initiative from Johnson came when Kyiv was trying to lobby pro-Trump Republicans in Congress and tried to persuade them to drop their opposition to Ukraine aid. The $61bn military aid package passed in April only after a six-month delay.
It is interesting to note that the proclamation by the Ukrainian leader came a day before the former US President was found guilty of falsifying business records to hide hush money payments made to adult film star Stormy Daniels.
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