Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky today called on the US to provide more funding to help its forces counter Russia and called on former President Donald Trump to go to his country to see for himself its greatness conflict.
Zelensky said US troops could eventually be drawn into a wider European conflict with Russia if Washington does not increase its support.
“If Russia kills us all, it will attack NATO countries and you will send your sons and daughters to fightZelensky said, according to a transcript of an interview on NBC’s “Meet the Press” that aired today.
Democratic US President Joe Biden pushed Congress to pass a $106 billion spending bill with most of the money earmarked to bolster Ukraine’s defenses and the rest split between Israel, the Indo- Pacific and for border protection.
However, the Republican-led US House of Representatives has proposed its own funding plan. He passed a bill last week to provide $14.3 billion in aid to Israel, but it did not include any increase in aid to Ukraine.
US Sen. Chuck Schumer, leader of the Democratic-controlled Senate majority, has said he will not bring the House bill up for a vote, and Biden has vowed to veto it.
In the interview broadcast today, Zelensky invited former Republican US President Donald Trump to visit Ukraine and see the consequences of the conflict after the Russian invasion in February 2022.
Trumpwho is running for re-election in 2024 and is his party’s leading candidate for the presidential nomination, has been sharply critical of US support for Kiev and said he could end the war in 24 hours if re-elected.
“If he can come here, I will need… 24 minutes to explain to President Trump that he cannot manage this warZelensky said. “He can’t bring peace because of Putin.”
