Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has sharply responded to former U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent comment in which he referred to the war in Ukraine as a “playground”, calling the statement offensive and detached from reality. Zelenskyy emphasized that what is happening in his country is “a real war” that takes lives, destroys cities, and has global consequences, reports Baltimore Chronicle with reference to ABC News.
Speaking during an interview at a forum in Singapore, Zelenskyy said that when American leaders compare the war to “children’s games”, they not only diminish the suffering of Ukrainians but also send dangerous signals to the aggressor. He reminded that the conflict is a full-scale Russian invasion, not an internal issue. According to him, such rhetoric only encourages the Kremlin to escalate further.
Donald Trump has repeatedly claimed that he could quickly end the war between Russia and Ukraine if he were in office. In his latest statement, he described the conflict as “a playground for Russia and Ukraine”, which drew criticism both in the United States and abroad.
Zelenskyy pointed out that civilians in Ukraine are dying every day, infrastructure and homes are being destroyed, and emphasized that this is not a game but a national tragedy. He expressed hope that political leaders, especially in the United States, will understand the reality of this war and what it means for those living through it daily.
The Ukrainian President also said that he respects American voters and counts on U.S. support regardless of the outcome of the upcoming presidential election. He stressed that the partnership with the United States is of vital importance for European security and for deterring Russian aggression.
Earlier we wrote that Zelensky identifies Ukraine’s priorities for talks in Istanbul.