Ukraine mayor reveals only way war could be ‘over in 24 hours’ after Donald Trump claim | World | News
The Mayor of Kyiv Vitali Klitschko has said Donald Trump’s boast he could end the Ukraine war in 24 hours can only become a reality once every Russian soldier has left the country.
Mr Klitschko, 52, gave a punchy response to the Republican Presidential hopeful who said in May last year it would take him a day to end the war which marked a bloody two-year anniversary this weekend.
Speaking exclusively to filmmaker Andrew Drury and Express.co.uk from his office in Kyiv, Mr Klitschko said that Russia‘s offers of a solution and compromise, were not compromises.
He said: “It’s not just stop the war, the Russians make a tricky game, they told us that they are ready to sit around the table, let’s find a compromise, let’s find a solution…
“But I have a question, to give up a big part of Ukraine to Russia is compromise, or is it not? It’s not a compromise, it’s no solution. And that’s why we are ready to sit around the table, just when the last Russian soldier has left Ukraine.”
Mr Klitschko also discussed the potential election of a new leader for the UK this year, with Labour’s Keir Starmer currently leading in most polls.
The wartime mayor said he could “not give an answer” on if Sir Keir would be a good new leader to work with, but he said it was up to every Western nation to support Ukraine because the war could “touch everyone”.
He added: “It’s the biggest mistake to feel like ‘this war doesn’t touch me personally’, it’s the biggest mistake, this war effects everyone.
“Ukraine is largest European country, and stability of largest country in Europe depend stability of Europe. Not just Europe but around the world, it’s biggest war in Europe after the Second World War.”
Speaking about his own country, which is currently under marital law but which would have had elections in April, Mr Klitschko said an election contest for President Zelensky would not be good for Ukraine.
He continued: “It’s a very difficult question because, yes in our time election of president was to be in April, but we are in a very difficult situation in Ukraine, we have to answer.
“First of all it’s no secret that around nine million Ukrainians are out of Ukraine as refugees. Also around the same numbers are refugees inside the country, it’s no secret there is millions of Ukrainians right now on the frontline.
“The question of observers, the question of an election, the question of the equal opportunity for everyone, and also main question, every election needs competition, competition between main political parties.
“My personal opinion right now, to make a competition inside the country during the war is a poison for Ukrainians, because it will destroy the country from (the) inside and that’s why so long as we have this war, to carry out an election during the war, it would be the biggest mistake.”