Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that working with Donald Trump, if he is re-elected as US president, would be “hard work, but we are hard workers.”
In an exclusive BBC interview in London, Zelensky expressed his readiness to collaborate with any US leader, emphasizing that his goal is to work with the United States regardless of who is in power.
Trump recently named Ohio Senator JD Vance as his running mate, a choice that has raised concerns in Ukraine due to Vance’s previous statements indicating a lack of interest in Ukraine’s situation.
This has led to worries that US support for Ukraine might diminish if Trump returns to the White House in November.
Zelensky, who is currently in the UK for the European Political Community (EPC) meeting, met with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Starmer has promised continued support for Ukraine and a £3 billion aid package. Zelensky expressed hope that Starmer’s leadership would represent a “special” era in UK foreign policy, emphasizing that he believes Britain’s support for Ukraine will remain strong.
On Friday, Zelensky will address the UK cabinet, becoming the first foreign leader to do so since Bill Clinton in 1997.
He will discuss Ukraine’s situation and the need to enhance Europe’s defense capabilities. Zelensky will also sign a £3.5 billion defense export finance deal with the UK.
Ukraine’s military has faced challenges, including a recent withdrawal from the village of Krynky and ongoing attacks around Kharkiv.
Zelensky mentioned that promised F-16 fighter jets have not yet arrived, which is crucial for countering Russian air dominance.
Regarding the ongoing war, Zelensky has called for increased global pressure on Russia to reach a diplomatic settlement. He believes that while military strength is important, diplomacy could also play a key role in ending the conflict.
Zelensky, who has been Ukraine’s leader since 2019 and throughout the Russian invasion, noted that although he will eventually step down, he will not do so until the war is over.
This summary is based on information from BBC.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cxe25prezgzo