Oleksandr bondarenko, a Kyiv resident, believes that Donald Trump, the U.S. president-elect, will try to find a “quick resolution” to stop Russia’s full scale invasion of Ukraine. He told The Kyiv Independent in Kyiv on Nov. 6, 2024. (The Kyiv Independent).
As Donald Trump wins the U.S. Presidential election, Ukrainians prepare themselves for what this means for their nation.
Trump has repeatedly stated that he will end Russia’s conflict with Ukraine “in 24 Hours” throughout the campaign. He said he would press Russia and Ukraine to negotiate a deal. He also refused to say that he wanted Ukraine win.
Trump’s victory comes at a particularly precarious time in the war when Russian troops are rapidly advancing in Donetsk Oblast.
The Kyiv independent went out to the streets to ask Ukrainians about their expectations of Trump’s return.
Oleksandr Bondarenko, 50, bank employee
“This is the decision of the American people. We are a foreign country and therefore we have no right to judge whether the decision is right or wrong. Time will tell how it will affect Ukraine. Let’s face it — this is high level politics and we are not a major player on the world stage.
I believe Trump will take action, as he has promised to put an end to the full-scale invasion. He’ll do his best to reach a quick solution. As far as I’m aware, Trump tends to compare himself with (Joe Biden), to look at what Biden did. In any event, he will want to leave his mark on U.S. History by saying, ‘I achieved more’
He has promised to act and he will. Most likely there will be negotiations (for peace). In any case, I think it will be better. He’ll take positive steps in any case.
He is the President of a Great Country. This is a great nation with great people, regardless of what his opponents or other opposition say. This is their choice. He’ll probably be a significant President. Their elections are more democratic.
He loves his country, America. He is focused on his own country. It’s important to focus on his country. It’s a normal behavior for any President. He should consider first his country’s interest, then external interests.”
Iryna Zvorotnia is 56 years old and the mother of a Russian prisoner.
“My child was held captive for 30 months.” It’s all painful. We hope and wish for more support from the West, so that people don’t become indifferent to our war.
The elections in the United States are important to me. I want international organizations to give us more support so that we can win. I have read some of Trump’s campaign promises and am not satisfied.
I can only say that he has said the war will end, but how? What will be the end result? I don’t know. My priority right now is my son’s release from captivity and that of his fellow soldiers.
I wish that at least the International Committee of the Red Cross would be able to access our POWs, and that some third party influence could push this organisation. But there is no action anywhere.
Trump says that he will end the war. Maybe it will.
But we must maintain the integrity of our country. Soldiers do not sacrifice their lives to defend our country.
Sofia Moroz, 17, biology student
“I saw an interesting chart that showed how the level of education of Americans correlates with their choice in president. The less educated the people in a state are, the more likely they are to vote for Trump. I don’t know what to make of this because, from the information space it appeared that many people would vote Kamala Harris.
This morning, I found myself rather unpleasantly shocked. Trump is not a person who will support Ukraine. He has too many friendly relations with Putin. It was immediately clear that he would not help us in this war.
I don’t think it’s fair to say that his relations with the Russian President are better than those with the Ukrainian president.
It would be difficult to make (ending the war in Ukraine a reality) because the war is not only fought in the military space and in the informational space. You can’t stop the war in one day in the information space because it is everywhere — on social networks, among various groups, and it’s difficult to bring everyone up-to-speed at once.
We’ll have to wait and see what happens in the next few days. These days are crucial for forming people’s opinions and there will be a lot of noise, so we’ll just have to see. “Most of my friends don’t like this new turn of events.”
Tamara Shevchenko is a 67-year-old mother of a soldier
“I fully support Trump’s decision to help Ukraine in the war. It’s difficult to understand him because he talks so vaguely. I can’t understand why he is so inconsistent. One moment, he seems to want to help and then he is against it. I want the world to support us so that we can end this conflict as quickly as possible, and stop losing men.
It would be (horrible) if Trump forced Ukraine to make territorial compromises to end the conflict. This must not happen.
They’ve already taken Voronezh and Kursk — these were our lands once. They took them in 1917. They’re now encroaching again on our land. This cannot be allowed. Crimea is ours. It must be liberated.
All our lands: Crimea, Donetsk Luhansk Mariupol. They must be part of Ukraine.”
Dmytro Lapko, 17, engineering student
“It happens. We don’t even know what would have happened if Kamala Harris had won. Who would have helped us the most? Everything is uncertain. We don’t receive much help. The most important thing is to not let them interfere.
Maybe Trump will change his mind and start helping more (Ukraine). Who knows? Who knows?
I suspect he has different tastes at different times in his life. I’m sure that he will like Russia more at some point in the future. It’s difficult to know what’s in his mind.
It used to be hard to predict our future. I don’t believe that it will change drastically. There is a very small chance that we’ll get more help. But the chance is so small, I don’t believe our prospects will change very much.”
Dmytro is a 17-year-old college student
“My attitude is that of neutrality. I think that Ukraine will survive no matter what. It is hard to say, but I think Trump’s win may be good for us. It will be a lottery, in my opinion. It can either get better or worse.
It’s difficult to answer (what Trump’s attitude is towards Ukraine). We must analyze the worst case scenario – either you freeze the conflict and leave the territory (to Russia) or you won’t receive any weapons. This is the hardest option for us. But I hope there will still be support, and that it will be even larger.
Will Trump be able settle (the war), as quickly as he wishes? I’m certain he won’t.”
Oksana, 21, lawyer
“Can I swear in this place? We are f*cked up like the Poles of 1939.
I would like to think that Donald Trump will be unpredictable and we won’t know his true intentions regarding Ukraine until the last minute. We have a chance and we can be confident that the arms supply will not decrease or even increase. We should be prepared for the worst case scenario, which is the freezing of the war and its recurrence over a period of years.
You must continue to live in Kyiv as long you can. We will see.
I’d love to think that my Western partners will realize we can’t depend on America anymore and increase their military assistance.
I think that our diplomats will need to work harder in order to explain that this war cannot be’resolved’. The only way out is for Ukraine to win. The question is: “What will the price be?”
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