The links between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump made the Republican candidate the least attractive option for Ukraine. However, Volodymyr Zelensky maintained neutrality and never officially took a position on the candidates for president of the United States of America. After Trump’s victory, the President of Ukraine not only did not antagonize the leader of the country that is Ukraine’s largest weapons supplier but also declared that the war would “end sooner” with the newly elected Republican administration.
“It is clear that, with the policies of the team that will now lead the White House, the war will end sooner. This is their position and their promise to public opinion, and it is very important to them.”said Zelensky, in an interview with Ukrainian public television, Suspline, known on Friday night.
The President of Ukraine revealed that he had a telephone conversation with the new American leader where there was a “constructive exchange” of ideas. In that phone call, Trump “listened to the pleas” of Ukraine and said “nothing against” the same.
One of Kiev’s fears with Donald Trump’s victory involves the existence of North American support for a peace negotiation in Ukraine that includes the ceding of Ukrainian territories to Russia, something that Ukraine has vehemently refused. Therefore, the Ukrainian President once again stressed that “it is very important to have a fair peace”, so that justice can be done after losing its “best people” in the war. Even so, Zelensky once again made it clear that he wants the war to end “next year through diplomatic channels”.
During the election campaign, Trump guaranteed that, if elected, he would end the war between Ukraine and Russia in just one day and argued that military aid to Kiev was “draining resources” from the US. Elected almost two weeks ago, the North American President has not yet disclosed his plans to fulfill his electoral promise regarding the conflict that has lasted since 2022.
Zelensky criticizes phone call between Scholz and Putin
One day after the telephone conversation between the German Chancellor and the President of Russia became known, Zelensky joined the voices critical of Olaf Scholz’s actions. Zelensky accused the German Chancellor of opening “Pandora’s box” and contributing to the end of the isolation of the Russian regime. “And this is exactly what Putin has been looking for for a long time,” he emphasized.
“I think Putin doesn’t want peace. But that doesn’t mean he doesn’t want to sit at the negotiating table with any of the leaders. For him, it’s about breaking political isolation, which is beneficial for him. Sit down, talk and don’t negotiate,” Zelensky added in an interview on the occasion of the centenary of Ukrainian Radio.
In addition to the President of Ukraine, German opposition parties also criticized Scholz’s attitude. The German conservative party (CDU) saw the call as “more a sign of weakness than strength” and accused the German chancellor of contributing to “the success of Russian propaganda”.
On the part of the German executive, the justification for the telephone contact was related to “the desire to start negotiations with Ukraine, with a view to a fair and lasting peace” and to show “the European Union’s (EU) unwavering commitment to Ukraine”.
Olaf Scholz on call with Vladimir Putin
Steffen Kugler/Federal Government via Getty Images
War in Ukraine
Also read
Other news:
⇒ The Governments of Estonia and Japan announced new aid for Ukraine’s war effort in the face of the Russian invasion. Estonia approved the shipment of equipment and ammunition, according to Estonian public television broadcaster ERR. It will also contribute with naval uniforms, surveillance material, sights, ballistic protection equipment and various types of ammunition.
⇒ The president of the European Commission this Saturday accused Russia of once again using energy “as a weapon”, cutting off gas to Austria. However, Von der Leyen assured that the 27 member states of the European Union are “prepared” to face Vladimir Putin’s “blackmail” and “ready for winter” as “gas deposits across the EU are full.” “We will not allow anyone to blackmail us. Not even the Russian President. We will not allow Putin’s Government, or Putin himself, to bring us to our knees,” said Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer. The Kremlin’s objective is to force the EU to lift sanctions on Russia.
⇒ A Russian ship caused tension with Irish authorities. After illegally entering Irish-controlled waters, the vessel was eventually detected by Dublin authorities and escorted out of the Irish Sea. According to “The Guardian”, the Russian ship, which is suspected of being a spy, was in an area where there are underwater pipelines and cables considered essential for that country’s energy and Internet. The Irish naval vessel escorted the Russian vessel out of the Irish exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
⇒ US President Joe Biden will meet with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, in the Peruvian capital, Lima, during the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum (APEC) meeting for the third and final time. Among the topics of the talks should be US concern about China’s support for the Russian Federation in the war against Ukraine, as well as the deployment of more than 10,000 North Korean soldiers in the Russian Federation.
Source: expresso.pt
