In a desperate call to former American president Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky appealed for a visit to Ukraine so that Trump could fully grasp the gravity of destruction caused by the Russian invasion on the country’s civilians and infrastructure.
Expressing grave concern on CBS’s 60 Minutes, Zelensky urged Trump to consider the reasons behind the war before proposing any terms of negotiation.
“I beg you, please look at the range of destruction that has happened. There is death among children, destruction in of the towns, there is damage inflicted on warriors, there are civilians, there are churches, hospitals. Look around,” Zelensky further added in the interview.
As debates surge around the U. S. role in Ukraine, conflicts around U. S. military and humanitarian support raises questions around the president’s terms of engagement.
Zelensky’s remarks stood out. Particularly highlighting what Trump has stated in the past; that any future U.S. presidency would be able to resolve the war within the span of a few weeks. However, with no concrete plan offered detailing the steps he would take.
Witnessing the level of suffering by the Ukrainian people personally would bring clarification to the undetermined true cost of war which is too often abstracted away in diplomatic briefings and media reports, is how Zelensky emphasizes the value the world needs to view
The ongoing war has led to thousands of casualties, millions of people being displaced, and important infrastructure in Ukraine being obliterated. Even as Ukraine continues to pursue Zelensky’s global support efforts, Zelensky’s individual appeal highlights his continuous attempts to sustain international interest in the humanitarian aspects of the war.