Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy publicly invited Donald Trump to visit his country so he could disprove the former U.S. president’s boast about solving the Russia-Ukraine war in just one day.
In an interview that aired Sunday, Zelenskyy told NBC’s “Meet the Press” anchor Kristen Welker that the Republican front-runner for the 2024 presidential nomination would be “very welcome” to visit his country. But he warned he’d debunk Trump’s claim about ending Russia’s invasion of Ukraine ― which Russian President Vladimir Putin launched in February 2022 ― within just 24 minutes.
“If he can come here, I will need 24 minutes, yes, 24 minutes, not more, to explain [to] President Trump that he can’t manage this war, he can’t bring peace because of the Putin,” said Zelenskky. “ If he’s not trying and if he’s not ready to give our territory for this terrible man … if you are not ready to give it, if you are not ready to give our independency, he can’t manage it. Yes, so he’s very welcome.”
Watch the interview here:
Welker asked Zelenskyy if he’d had any contact with Trump since the latter left the White House in January 2021. Trump was impeached during his presidency for attempting to extort Ukraine and Zelenskyy to dig up dirt on his then-potential 2020 election rival Joe Biden.
“No. No, that’s why he’s very welcome,” Zelenskyy replied.
Welker asked Zelenskyy if he thought Trump would have Ukraine’s back if he won back the White House in 2024.
“Really, I don’t know,” he responded. “It depends not only on presidents institutionally. I think it depends on the opinion of Americans, of your society. I think that is most important.”
Concluding the interview, Zelenskyy said he never felt defeated amid the ongoing invasion but that it didn’t mean Ukrainians “want to fight all out life because the price is high.”
“But we’re not ready to give our freedom to that fucking terrorist Putin,” he added. “That’s it, that’s why we’re fighting. That’s it.”
