Interview with CNN on 4th Anniversary of War
"We Want Concrete Guarantees in Case of a Future Russian Invasion"
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky appealed to U.S. President Donald Trump to support Ukraine, saying he wants concrete measures to guarantee Ukraine's security.
In a public interview with CNN on the 23rd (local time), marking the fourth anniversary of the outbreak of the war, President Zelensky said, "Russian President Vladimir Putin is the war itself," and urged, "They (the United States) must stand with a democratic nation that is fighting against one man." He went on to say, "I hope that in his State of the Union address on the 24th, President Trump will express support for Ukraine, which is fighting against Russia."
He said, "The biggest challenge in the current talks is security guarantees for Ukraine, and in particular, the question of how allies would respond if Russia were to invade Ukraine again in the future remains an obstacle," adding, "There are good elements in the security guarantees currently being discussed, but we want concrete answers on what kind of response our allies can provide."
Along with this, President Zelensky said that he and President Trump also have differences over procedural issues in the ongoing three-party talks and negotiations. He said, "President Trump wants to conclude, in a single grand event celebrating the end of the war, both a peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia and an agreement under which the United States and Europe would provide security guarantees for Ukraine," adding, "We believe that the security guarantees must first secure agreement and ratification by the U.S. Congress. That is what will give the Ukrainian people confidence that they can trust their future allies."
He drew a clear line on another key issue, the question of withdrawal from the eastern Donetsk region. He said, "Russia wants us to withdraw, but we cannot be that foolish," adding that while he is willing to halt the fighting along the current front line, Ukraine has no intention of withdrawing from the parts of the eastern Donetsk region that it still controls.
Separately from the issue of peace negotiations, President Zelensky also stated his position on the Ukrainian presidential election. He said, "It is very interesting when presidents of various countries, including the United States and Russia, talk about our election," and asked, "What is it that they want? Another president? I wonder whether they think that if there is a different president, Ukraine will make concessions." He added, "I do not know whom President Trump wants to see as president of Ukraine," and said, "He has not told me."
Meanwhile, President Zelensky's term officially ended in May 2024, but as the war has continued and martial law has not been lifted, he remains in office. Under Ukraine's constitution, elections are indefinitely postponed while martial law is in effect and are to be held after the war.
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