WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelensky on Sunday called on the United States to provide more financial aid to his country to counter Russia, and invited former U.S. President Donald Trump to visit Ukraine so he can assess the situation on site for himself.
Ukraine’s president said U.S. troops could become even more embroiled in a conflict with Russia if Washington does not increase its aid to Ukraine.
“If Russia kills us all, it will attack the NATO countries and then you will have to send your sons and daughters (to fight),” Volodimir Zelensky said, according to a script of an interview given by the Ukrainian president to NBC and which is to be broadcast on Sunday.
Democratic US President Joe Biden is pushing for the US Congress to pass an additional $106 billion in aid.
But the Republican-led House of Representatives passed another bill providing $14.3 billion in aid to Israel, without including additional aid for Kyiv.
In this same interview given to NBC, Volodimir Zelensky also extended an invitation to Donald Trump.
“If he can come here, I would need… 24 minutes to explain to President Trump that he cannot manage this war,” he said. “He cannot bring peace because of Putin,” he also added.
The former tenant of the White House, candidate for the next presidential election in 2024, is a fervent critic of American aid provided to Ukraine and affirmed that he could end the war in 24 hours if he were re-elected.
(Reporting by Ted Hesson in Washington; French version Zhifan Liu)
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