Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called on US President Donald Trump to visit Ukraine in order to witness firsthand the devastation caused by Russia’s invasion.
“Before making any decisions or entering into negotiations, please come and see the people, the civilians, the warriors, the hospitals, the churches, and the children who have been destroyed or killed,” he stated during an interview with CBS’ ’60 Minutes.’
A visit to Ukraine, he mentioned, would help Mr. Trump “understand what (Russian leader Vladimir) Putin has done.”
“You will recognize with whom you are dealing,” Mr. Zelensky further emphasized.
Ukrainian rescue teams are searching through the debris left by a missile attack in Sumy.
At that time, Mr. Vance accused Ukraine of conducting “propaganda tours” with foreign leaders to garner support.
Mr. Zelensky firmly denied this claim and told CBS that if Mr. Trump decides to come to Ukraine, “we will not stage anything. It won’t be a performance.”
“You can visit any location you prefer, in any city that has endured attacks,” he added.
Mr. Trump is advocating for a swift resolution to the over three-year conflict, while the United States has been engaging in direct talks with Russia despite its ongoing assaults on Ukraine.
The United States has also conversed with Ukrainian officials regarding a potential truce, as European nations consider a military deployment to support any ceasefire in Ukraine.
Ukraine has previously agreed to a US-suggested unconditional ceasefire, but Russia has rejected it.
“Putin cannot be trusted. I have told President Trump that many times. So when you ask why the ceasefire is not effective – this is the reason,” Mr. Zelensky stated.
Read more: 34 people killed, 117 injured in Russian strike on the Ukrainian city of Sumy
“Putin has never wanted the war to end. He has never wanted us to be independent. His goal is to completely destroy us – our sovereignty and our people,” he added.
Mr. Zelensky spoke to CBS on Friday in his hometown, Kryvyi Rih, where a Russian strike earlier this month resulted in the deaths of 18 individuals, including nine children.
As discussions continue regarding an end to the conflict, Mr. Zelensky asserted that a just peace would involve preserving “our sovereignty and our independence,” and he vowed to eventually reclaim any territory currently occupied by Russia.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky asserted that Russian President Vladimir Putin “never wanted an end to the war.”
“We will take back what is ours, no matter the cost, because we never lost it – the Russians seized it from us,” he stated.
This statement follows a recent incident where two Russian ballistic missiles struck the center of the northern Ukrainian city of Sumy, resulting in 34 fatalities and injuring 117 people in the deadliest attack on Ukraine this year, according to officials.
Mr. Zelensky has called for a strong international response against Russia due to the attack, which coincides with Mr. Trump’s efforts to quickly end the war facing challenges in making progress.
Leaders from Britain, Germany, and Italy have condemned the assault.
“These attacks illustrate just how much Russia’s supposed willingness for peace is worth,” German Chancellor Olaf Scholz remarked on social media.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed condolences for the victims in a statement, noting that the attack serves as a “tragic reminder of why President Trump and his Administration are dedicating so much effort to try to end this war.”
During Mr. Trump’s administration, US officials have engaged in separate discussions with both Kremlin and Ukrainian officials to advance toward a cessation of hostilities in Ukraine.
