By Michelle Nichols
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – Russian Ambassador to the United Nations Vasily Nebenzia said on Monday that “the Ukrainian crisis cannot be resolved in one day,” in response to a question about US presidential candidate Donald Trump’s repeated claims that he could end the war within 24 hours if re-elected. .
Republican candidate Trump did not elaborate and said that if there was a “real president” in the United States – who is respected by Russian President Vladimir Putin – Moscow would not have invaded Ukraine in February 2022.
“I will work to settle the war between Putin and (Ukrainian President Volodymyr) Zelensky as president-elect before I take office on January 20th. I will work to settle this war,” Trump said last week during a debate against Democratic President Joe Biden. “I will work to settle it quickly before I take office.”
American voters go to the polls on November 5 to elect the next president for a four-year term.
The election outcome is important for Russia, despite its attempts to downplay it, because it will determine the extent of Washington’s commitment to continuing to support Ukraine against Moscow and supply it with advanced American weapons.
“The Ukrainian crisis cannot be solved in one day,” Nebenzia said at a press conference marking the start of Russia’s presidency of the UN Security Council for July.
The Trump campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Nebenzia’s statements.
The Kremlin has said that any peace plan for Ukraine proposed by a potential future Trump administration must reflect reality on the ground, but Putin remains open to talks.