Zelenskyy’s Plea to Trump: Witness Ukraine’s Tragedy Firsthand Amid Ongoing Russian Onslaught

As the war in Ukraine continues to devastate cities and families, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s determined efforts to bring the scale of Russia’s aggression to the attention of world leaders reached a new level this week. In a powerful CBS interview and during his 2025 conversation with 60 Minutes, Zelenskyy publicly urged former US President Donald Trump to visit Ukraine and confront the true consequences of Vladimir Putin’s ongoing assault.

The plea came in the immediate aftermath of a harrowing missile strike by Russia on the city of Sumy, which killed at least 34 people and injured 83 more—among them, two children who perished as a packed trolley bus became a target. The timing could not be more critical. As diplomatic winds shift in Washington and European capitals, Zelenskyy’s appeal underscores Ukraine’s deepening fear of being left alone as the world’s attention wavers.

"Please, before any kind of decisions, any kind of forms of negotiations, come to see people, civilians, warriors, hospitals, churches, children destroyed or dead," Zelenskyy urged Trump, emphasizing that major power negotiations must not ignore the suffering of ordinary Ukrainians. Zelenskyy's challenge is both deeply personal and fiercely political: the United States, under the Trump administration, has shifted its stance—curbing aid to Ukraine and seeking direct negotiation with Moscow, sometimes parroting Russian narratives that blame Ukraine for sparking the war.

The split is evident: in a dramatic Oval Office meeting, Trump reportedly told Zelenskyy, "You're not in a good position; you don't have the cards right now," while his vice president suggested Putin could be trusted, framing Zelenskyy's concerns as propaganda. In response, Zelenskyy could only insist, "There is an aggressor and there is a victim. The Russians are the aggressor, and we are the victim."

European leaders have swiftly condemned Russia’s attacks, calling for new, powerful measures to force a ceasefire. France’s President Emmanuel Macron declared, "Everyone knows it is Russia alone that wants this war." The European Union, Germany, Britain, and Italy further echoed calls for justice and immediate cessation of violence.

The statistics shared by Zelenskyy are chilling: over 1,700 attacks on schools, 13,000 civilians killed, and 100,000 Ukrainian soldiers lost—figures met with grim acceptance but little meaningful change. For Zelenskyy, the hope rests on bringing global attention to the ongoing atrocities, warning that, “If we do not stand firm, [Putin] will advance further... It could escalate into a world war.”

The call for President Trump to set foot in Ukraine isn’t just a diplomatic dare—it’s a plea for empathy and action from the Western world’s most powerful player. As global leaders debate, the fate of Ukraine, Europe, and perhaps the security of the world lie in the balance.

Will a personal visit from Trump, or renewed American engagement, change the course of Putin’s brutal campaign? Or will shifting alliances leave Ukraine even more isolated? Share your thoughts and join the conversation below.

• Donald Trump
• Sumy missile strike
• Volodymyr Zelenskyy