Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has delivered a grave and urgent warning to the West, stating that the potential return of Donald Trump to the White House poses a direct and severe threat to his country's security and any prospective peace deal with Russia.
In a candid and wide-ranging interview, Zelensky expressed profound anxiety over Trump's repeated boasts that he could end the brutal war in Ukraine “within 24 hours.” The President dismissed these claims as “very dangerous” campaign rhetoric, fearing any such rushed deal would overwhelmingly favour Moscow and come at a catastrophic cost to Ukrainian sovereignty.
The Looming Shadow of a Trump Presidency
The core of Zelensky's concern lies in Trump's longstanding hostility towards the NATO alliance and his suggestion that the US might not defend members who fail to meet defence spending targets. This stance, Zelensky argues, effectively gives Russian President Vladimir Putin a green light to continue his aggression.
“If the United States’ policy is to be a friend with Russia… then I think Putin will have more strength and more courage to continue the occupation of our country,” Zelensky stated, painting a bleak picture of a future where American support is withdrawn.
A Desperate Plea for Bipartisan Support
With vital US military aid currently stalled in Congress by Republican lawmakers aligned with Trump, Zelensky's appeal is now aimed squarely at the American political establishment and public. He is desperately trying to lock in long-term security guarantees and financial support that would survive beyond a single presidential term, insulating Ukraine from the volatile winds of US electoral politics.
His strategy involves a delicate diplomatic dance: maintaining support from the current Biden administration while simultaneously preparing for a possible Trump restoration. This includes making a direct, emotional case to American voters about the moral and strategic necessity of continuing to back Ukraine.
The High-Stakes Gamble on a Peace Deal
Zelensky revealed that discussions about a potential peace plan, reportedly involving Trump's advisers, are already underway. However, he remains deeply sceptical. His fear is that any deal orchestrated by Trump would force Ukraine to cede occupied territories to Russia in exchange for a fragile and unjust ceasefire, rewarding Putin's invasion and setting a dangerous global precedent.
The interview underscores a painful and precarious reality for Ukraine: its fate is increasingly tied not just to the battlefield, but to the unpredictable arena of American domestic politics. The outcome of the next US election could very well determine the future of a sovereign European nation.
