Trump's arrival in Kyiv would be an important signal for Ukraine - MP Merezhko
US President Donald Trump's visit to Kyiv would be of great importance both for Ukraine and for him - it would be a step towards a deeper understanding of the situation, Oleksandr Merezhko (Servant of the People faction), chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Foreign Policy and Interparliamentary Cooperation, is confident.
"We would be very glad to see him. And the Speaker of the Parliament, Ruslan Stefanchuk, I think, would like to welcome Trump to parliament... Biden was in Kyiv at a very difficult time, when it was dangerous... It would be very right and logical if Trump, who is engaged in peacekeeping, who is thinking about stopping Russian aggression, came to Ukraine and simply saw with his own eyes what is happening here," Merezhko said in a comment to the Interfax-Ukraine agency on Monday.
According to Merezhko, if Trump had come to Ukraine and talked to people, with members of parliament, with members of the government, he would not have made such statements that Putin allegedly wants to see Ukraine successful.
"He would understand better what is happening. This is important not only for Ukraine, but also for him, to figure out what is really happening."
According to the MP, if Trump wants to become a great president, he should follow the example of such presidents as John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan.
"During the Cold War, its center was West Berlin, which was constantly under threat. And Kennedy came there and in his famous speech said: "I am a Berliner," that is, he emphasized the moral solidarity and support of the United States for the residents of West Berlin. And this had a very significant impact on the course of the Cold War and on the fact that democracy won in the end. Reagan also came to West Berlin in 1987 and, speaking in front of the Berlin Wall, said: "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall." And this also had an impact on subsequent events," Merezhko recalled.
He emphasized that Trump's visit to Kyiv and his speech in parliament could become a powerful signal to Russia that the United States stands on the side of democracy.
"If Trump came to Kyiv and said some words of support to the Ukrainian people, it would have a significant impact. It would be such a powerful signal to Putin, to Russia. And after that, Russia would understand that the United States is on the right side of history, on the side of democracy, and that one should not count on Trump taking a pro-Russian position," Merezhko emphasized. As reported, after talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Florida, Trump declared his readiness to come to Ukraine and address the parliament if this would help conclude a peace agreement.