By Michelle Nichols
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – Russia’s U.N. ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said on Monday that “the Ukrainian crisis cannot be resolved in one day,” when asked about U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump’s frequent claims that he could end the war within 24 hours if re-elected.
Republican candidate Trump has not given any details and has said that if there had been a “real president” in the US – who was respected by Russian President Vladimir Putin – then Moscow would not have invaded Ukraine in February 2022.
“I will have resolved that war between Putin and (Ukrainian President Volodymyr) Zelenskiy as president-elect before I take office on January 20. I will resolve that war,” Trump said last week during a debate against Democratic President Joe Biden. “I’ll figure it out quickly, before I take office.”
American voters will go to the polls on November 5 to elect the next president for a four-year term.
The election result is important for Russia, despite its attempts to downplay it, because it will determine the extent of Washington’s commitment to continue supporting Ukraine against Moscow and supplying it with advanced US weapons.
“The Ukrainian crisis cannot be resolved in one day,” Nebenzia said at a news conference to mark the start of Russia’s presidency of the United Nations Security Council in July.
The Trump campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Nebenzia’s comments.
The Kremlin has said any Ukraine peace plan proposed by a potential future Trump administration would have to reflect reality on the ground, but Putin remained open to talks.