Zelensky Urges Trump to Visit Kyiv, Accuses Putin of Obstruction
Zelensky Appeals to Trump for Visit, Marking Four Years of War with Russia
Kyiv, Ukraine – – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy issued a direct appeal to former U.S. President Donald Trump to visit Kyiv today, the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion. Zelenskyy stated that a visit from Trump could clarify “who the aggressor is here and who must be pressured,” according to a video address released Tuesday.
Zelenskyy emphasized that Ukraine will not betray its people in any negotiations with Russia. He asserted that Russian President Vladimir Putin has not achieved his initial war objectives or broken the spirit of the Ukrainian people. “He has not won this war,” Zelenskyy said. “We have preserved Ukraine, and we will do everything to achieve peace and ensure justice.”
The address, delivered from an underground bunker beneath Bankova Street in Kyiv – the location where Zelenskyy and his advisors worked during the initial hours of the 2022 invasion – included previously unseen footage of the early days of the conflict. Zelenskyy recounted receiving a call from President Joe Biden offering assistance with evacuation, to which he responded, “I need ammunition, not a ride.”
Zelenskyy also commemorated the fallen with a visit to the Maidan Square memorial in Kyiv, laying roses for the thousands of Ukrainian service members – both men and women – who have died over the past four years.
The anniversary was marked by visits from European leaders, including British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Prime ministers from Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Iceland, Estonia, and Latvia, as well as Finland’s President Alexander Stubb, also joined Zelenskyy in Kyiv. Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron participated in a meeting of a “coalition of the willing” via video conference.
Zelenskyy expressed gratitude for a recent air defense package delivered by allies, stating that Ukraine had survived a “terrible” winter. He also acknowledged the support received from international partners.
The appeal to Trump comes as efforts to secure a lasting peace remain challenging. Zelenskyy recently noted that while some groundwork had been laid in U.S.-led negotiations in Switzerland, critical issues remained unresolved. Russia continues to insist on maintaining control of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, as well as Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, and seeks to expand its control within Donetsk Oblast.
Zelenskyy stated his belief that Putin will not end the war unilaterally, arguing that the Russian leader’s motivations are rooted in self-preservation. He reiterated his call for the United States to leverage its influence to compel Russia to a ceasefire and a lasting peace. “Putin will not end the war on his own. But the strength of America is enough to make it happen,” he said.
Meanwhile, Putin has claimed that Ukraine sabotaged the peace process with the assistance of Western intelligence agencies, alleging that Kyiv and its allies are pushing themselves to the brink in their determination to defeat Russia.
The Ukrainian leader’s direct appeal to Trump underscores the ongoing importance of U.S. Involvement in resolving the conflict, as Ukraine continues to defend its sovereignty against Russian aggression.