Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called on former U.S. President Donald Trump to visit Ukraine and witness firsthand the devastation wrought by the ongoing war before making any commitments toward a peace deal with Russia.
Speaking in the wake of renewed Russian missile attacks that have killed dozens, Zelensky said such a visit would help Trump better understand the true scale of the tragedy facing the Ukrainian people.
“You will understand what (Russian President Vladimir) Putin did,” Zelensky said, emphasizing the need for Trump to personally assess the suffering of Ukrainian civilians, soldiers, hospitals, churches, and children whose lives have been upended or lost.
Mindful of his tense meeting with the U.S. leader in Washington in February, the Ukrainian president reiterated his respect for America’s position, but stressed the importance of informed diplomacy.
“I tried to explain that you can’t look for something in the middle. There is an aggressor and there is a victim,” he added, taking a clear stance against attempts to present the conflict as balanced or symmetrical.
Zelensky expressed concern that the Russian narrative about the war, now in its fourth year, seems to be gaining traction within the new U.S. administration. He was particularly critical of Vice President JD Vance, who he said led the attack on him during his White House visit in February.
The plea comes amid fresh tragedies in Ukraine. A Russian missile strike on April 4 killed 19 people, including nine children and teenagers. Just days later, a rocket attack on the town of Sumy claimed at least 34 lives.
Zelensky remains hopeful that a Trump visit could shift perspectives in Washington. “You have to come and see,” he urged.
