Zelenskyy invites Trump to Ukraine before peace plan: 'To understand what's going on here'
Photo: Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Donald Trump (Getty Images)
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said he would welcome a visit from US President Donald Trump to Ukraine so that the American leader could see the consequences of Russian aggression firsthand. Only after that, Zelenskyy added, could discussions move forward regarding ending the war, according to Zelenskyy’s interview with CBS News.
According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, a visit to Ukraine could help US President Donald Trump "understand what's going on here."
"We respect your position," he said in English, in an invitation directed to Mr. Trump, "but, please, before any kind of decisions, any kind of plans for negotiations, come to see the people, civilians, warriors, hospitals, churches, children destroyed or dead."
The conversation took place while Zelenskyy was visiting Kryvyi Rih following a deadly Russian missile strike on April 4 that killed 19 people, including nine children.
"Come, look, and then let's move with a plan on how to finish the war. You will understand with whom you have a deal. You will understand what Putin did," Zelenskyy said.
Addressing the ongoing Russian terror attacks on Ukrainian cities, the president stressed that such actions show "that we can't trust Russia. It's that we can't trust negotiations with Russia."
Zelenskyy also expressed concern over the growing influence of Kremlin narratives in the US.
"I believe, sadly, (that) Russian narratives are prevailing in the US," Zelenskyy said. "How is it possible to witness our losses and our suffering, to understand what the Russians are doing, and to still believe that they are not the aggressors, that they did not start this war? This speaks to the enormous influence of Russia's information policy on America, on US politics and U.S. politicians."
Zelenskyy added that Trump, as “the strong president of a strong country,” should stand with Ukraine.
"I think it is wrong that America wants to be neutral," he noted.
US–Russia relations reset
Following Trump’s return to power, the US resumed contact with Russia. Trump has already held talks with Putin, and US and Russian officials have met on neutral ground - including one meeting in Saudi Arabia.
At that meeting, which included US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, the sides agreed to continue discussions on ending Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Meanwhile, Trump has increased pressure on Ukraine. He suspended military aid to Ukrainian defenders and halted intelligence sharing between the two nations.
In March, US Special Envoy for Ukraine and Russia, Keith Kellogg, said the US. considers the continued isolation of Russia a “non-viable strategy.”
President Zelenskyy also noted on March 26 that US presidential envoy Steve Witkoff frequently echoes Russian narratives - something he warned would not bring peace and would only weaken US pressure on Russia.
