Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky has said he is not worried about Donald Trump potentially returning to the White House, as Kiev enjoys bipartisan support in the US.
“We have a strong relationship with the Republican side of Congress and the US political class,” the Ukrainian leader said during a news conference on Monday, when asked about the US election campaign.
He pointed to his meetings with GOP members last week, when he traveled to the US to sign the Ukraine Compact – a multinational pledge of long-term support for Kiev against Moscow. The Republicans “respect Ukraine, the people of Ukraine, our warriors and me,” he said.
If Mr. Donald Trump becomes the president, we will work with him. I am not afraid of that.
Zelensky mentioned the $40 billion in aid that the US and its allies pledged to Ukraine last week, and suggested that Trump would be happy about the arrangement, because three quarters of the money will come from Europe and not the US.
When asked how he might deal with potential pressure from Trump to seek peace with Russia, he replied: “Don’t shove, unless you are shoved.”
Trump has claimed on multiple occasions that he could end the Ukraine conflict “in 24 hours” if reelected. He has also criticized NATO, arguing that European nations use the military bloc to take advantage of US protection, while failing to pay their share of the cost.
In a move widely seen as a bad sign for Ukraine, Trump has picked Ohio Senator J.D. Vance as his running mate – an outspoken critic of aid to Kiev.
On various occasions, the politician has called Ukraine “functionally destroyed,” said the goal of defeating Russia on the battlefield was “absurd,” and lashed out at Zelensky for “lecturing” Americans and “demanding” more of their taxpayer dollars.