Volodymyr Zelenskiy has cautioned that Donald Trump could end up as a ‘failed president’ if he achieves victory in the forthcoming November elections and subsequently imposes a detrimental peace agreement on Ukraine. This move could threaten the standing of the US as a global contender, Zelenskiy warned in a discussion with The Guardian in Kyiv.
Despite having no concrete plan in the event of Trump reclaiming his presidency, Zelenskiy disclosed that Boris Johnson, former British Prime Minister, has made indirect propositions on Trump’s behalf. There is a broad expectation that if Trump surpasses Joe Biden in the elections, US military aid to Ukraine will be terminated. In the previous year, Trump arrogantly declared he could halt the ongoing war within a mere day.
A hypothetical proposal hinted by Trump’s assistants in the past involved the concession of the eastern territories of Ukraine, including Crimea, to Russia. However, Zelenskiy emphasised that such a proposal would be intolerable to Ukrainians. A Russian ‘demand’ that compels Ukraine to renounce its ongoing integration with Europe and anticipated membership in NATO would also be unacceptable, Zelenskiy stated.
Zelenskiy willingly admitted that a victorious Trump may have the capacity to inflict a crippling military defeat on Ukraine. He could withdraw ‘backing, arms, and funds’, and could potentially negotiate arrangements with supporting parties of Kyiv to halt the critical supply of weaponry. The Ukrainian President, Zelenskiy, confessed to The Guardian that a defenceless Ukraine, devoid of arms, would be incapable of combat against the formidable Russian forces.
Despite this threatening scenario appearing improbable, Zelenskiy expressed concern about its potential impact on the global reputation of the US, as well as personal repercussions for Trump. “Does he aspire to be a failing president? Does he comprehend the potential consequences?”, questioned Zelenskiy.
Zelenskiy anticipated that any deal facilitated by Trump would be contravened by Vladimir Putin. He described the ceasefire as a ‘snare’ and revealed that following a brief hiatus, Putin would advance further resulting in humiliating Trump and undermining his strength the global stage, Zelenskiy declared.
Mr Zelenskiy expanded his previous statements: “This is less about the individual [Trump] but more so about the US’s institutions. Their influence will drastically diminish. While the US will indefinitely remain a powerhouse domestically, its international importance will fall drastically.”
Reflecting upon Washington’s diminishing role as “a significant actor” on the global stage, Mr Zelenskiy asserted that other primarily autocratic countries and their leaders would “step into the spotlight” and adopt Putin’s confrontational “style”.
He went on to predict that this shift in power dynamics could lead to catastrophic global consequences: “This is the inception of what everyone is too scared to discuss. This is the authentic reality. This is indeed the commencement of World War III.”
In response to a question regarding Mr Johnson’s communication with Trump on Ukraine’s stance, Mr Zelenskiy responded: “As far as I’m aware, he has made attempts to communicate with Trump on this matter and I think he managed to do so.”
He further stated: “I regret that Boris is being exploited in this situation.”
This information comes amidst efforts by Kyiv to influence pro-Trump Republicans in the US Congress to abandon their resistance against financial aid to Ukraine. The powerful $61 billion (£44 billion) military aid package was finally approved in April, following a six-month delay.
A day prior to Mr Zelenskiy’s statements, Trump was declared guilty on all 34 charges of falsifying business records by a New York jury, making him the first ex-president in US history to be convicted of felony crimes.
During his presidency in 2019, Trump called Mr Zelenskiy, asking him to investigate his political rivals Mr Biden and his son, Hunter. Trump alluded to withholding security aid to Ukraine if no detrimental information about Hunter Biden was found, according to a leaked phone call. This controversy led to Trump’s initial impeachment.
Mr Zelenskiy expressed an invitation for Trump to visit Ukraine. “I wish to discuss matters with him transparently. I request he observe the conflict firsthand before engaging in a conversation with me. I believe this would assist him in comprehending the situation more accurately,” he stated.
According to Mr Zelenskiy, an understanding of Trump’s association with Putin is drawn from the ex-president’s public declarations. Their interactions have occurred during international diplomatic occasions. Trump has previously commended Russia’s supreme leader, referring to him as “a genius” and applauding his large-scale assault on Ukraine in 2022 as “clever”. Mr Zelenskiy highlighted, however, that communicating with Putin did not equate to truly knowing him. He suggested that to grasp the full extent of Putin’s actions, Trump needed to witness the outcomes of his interference in Ukraine – specifically, the wrecked towns and cities, the civilian death toll, and the ongoing missile attacks from Russia. – The Guardian