Zelenskyy Urges Trump to Experience Ukraine's Reality to Understand the War's Impact

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called on former President Donald Trump to visit Kyiv during a recent video address marking the fourth anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Zelenskyy emphasized that Ukraine remains resolute and will not betray its people in any negotiations with Russia. In his emotional address, Zelenskyy declared, "Putin has not won this war." He stressed that despite the aggressive intentions of the Kremlin, Ukraine has preserved its sovereignty, and the fight for peace and justice continues. The 18-minute video showcased previously unreleased footage from the underground bunker on Bankova Street in Kyiv, where Zelenskyy and his advisers worked and took shelter in the early hours following Russia's 2022 assault. Zelenskyy reminisced about a pivotal moment in his presidency when he received a call from President Joe Biden, who offered him assistance in leaving Ukraine. Zelenskyy's now-famous response was, "I need ammunition, not a ride," underscoring his commitment to defending his country. The video also showed Zelenskyy paying tribute to the thousands of Ukrainian service members who lost their lives over the past four years by laying flowers at a memorial in Maidan Square. The address highlighted visits from world leaders to Kyiv, including British politicians Keir Starmer and Boris Johnson. Zelenskyy expressed a sincere desire to host the U.S. President in Ukraine, emphasizing that a firsthand experience of the nation's struggles and triumphs would reveal the realities of the ongoing conflict. "A trip to Ukraine might make it clear to Trump who the aggressor is here and who must be pressured," Zelenskyy suggested. He reiterated the need for the international community to hold Russia accountable for its actions, stating, "This is not a street fight; it is an attack by a sick state on a sovereign one. He (Putin) is the cause of its beginning and the obstacle to its end, and it is Russia that must be put in its place for real peace to be achieved." Despite previous invitations for Trump to visit Ukraine, he has not yet accepted. During a controversial meeting at the White House last year, Trump sided with Putin during discussions about peace talks, a move that has raised concerns among Ukrainian officials. Zelenskyy has openly opposed Kremlin demands that Ukraine cede territory in the contested eastern Donbas region, emphasizing, "We want peace—strong, dignified, lasting peace." In his recent address, Zelenskyy instructed Ukrainian negotiators, who met in Geneva, to honor the struggles and sacrifices made for the nation. "Do not nullify all these years, do not devalue all the struggle, courage, dignity, everything that Ukraine has gone through. We cannot—we must not—give it away, forget it, or betray it," he urged. On the same day, Zelenskyy welcomed a delegation of European leaders to Kyiv, including British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. This group will visit a site of an energy infrastructure facility devastated by Russian missile attacks that have left millions of Ukrainians without power amid the harshest winter in recent memory. During his anniversary address, Zelenskyy condemned Putin's attacks on civilians, pointing out that since the Russian leader was unable to defeat Ukraine on the battlefield, he resorted to striking civilians and essential infrastructure. "And now Ukrainians are enduring the hardest winter in history and terror almost every night," he lamented. Additionally, Zelenskyy criticized the International Olympic Committee for banning Ukrainian athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych from the Winter Games after he refused to compete without a helmet featuring portraits of athletes slain by Russian forces. Zelenskyy took pride in the nation's achievements, from gaining EU candidate status to winning prominent cultural awards, stating, "From all such steps, achievements, and small victories, the great Ukraine is formed. Great because it has you—people who inspire the planet." Zelenskyy's passionate plea underscores the enduring struggle of the Ukrainian people and the importance of international solidarity in facing aggression. Related Sources: • Source 1 • Source 2 • Source 3