Ex-Ukrainian President ‘Guarantees’ Trump Won’t Cut Funding in Fight Against Russia

CNN’s John Berman interviewed former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko on Friday about what he sees happening with Ukraine’s war effort to repel invading Russian troops now that Donald Trump is the president-elect of the United States.

“Morning, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirms that deadly clashes with North Korean troops in the in Russia’s curse region. I assume he confirms that they’re actually happening. This news comes as Ukraine is preparing for the possibility of a major funding cut following Donald Trump’s election,” Berman began, adding:

Back to the White House. With us now is the former Ukrainian president, Petro Poroshenko. Mr. President, thank you so much for being with us. Donald Trump has been elected in the United States again. In the past, there have been discussions that if he were elected, he might cut US funding to Ukraine. What would happen if funding to Ukraine from the United States came to an end?

“So thank you very much indeed for the invitation. Second, I want to say that I am very much appreciate the American people for their unique bipartisan support. Ukraine is a state fighting for our freedom, for our democracy, and for freedom in the world. Second, I worked with Trump for more than three years, and I definitely can guarantee that this does not happen. And the third, no matter if we would have the money, without the money, Ukrainian people will fight for our state for our independence, for our sovereignty and for our territorial integrity,” replied Poroshenko.

“Donald Trump has said that he could broker some kind of peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia within 24 hours. Do you believe that?” Berman followed up.

“Yeah. I hear that before the election, and I’m happy to hear that after the election. And my piece of advice, if Trump wants to stop the war in 24 hours, he can have it and the only one way is to invite Ukraine to join NATO. Then Ukraine would be made a member state within 24 hours war will be stopped. And there will be no peace without Ukraine joining NATO, neither in 24 hours nor in 24 years,” Poroshenko responded.

“What is your biggest concern now following the US election?” Berman pressed.

“Look the after the election, this is not only the challenge, but also the opportunities. Again, I worked with Trump for three years and after my meeting in White House, we received fast lethal weapons, including Javelin and radar electronic warfare system. We receive sanction against company who build up the Nord Stream II. We receive this support for Ukrainian independent Church and many, many of their achievements,” Poroshenko replied, concluding:

So now we have different Trump. Very different from year 2020. And at the same time, we have a different Putin. If five years ago under Trump presidency, Putin was just a bad guy. Now he is a killer and terrorist and he is dangerous not only for Ukraine and definitely not only for Europe, but for United States and for American people. And I think that my message is help us to stop Putin.

It is cheaper and more effective to stop him in Ukraine, not losing the time. And my message to NATO. We have no any opportunity to lose people on Ukrainian territory, to lose territory and to lose time. That’s why we need to have active and well-coordinated. And one more, we don’t try to do nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine. And I want to use this opportunity to invite President Trump to visit Ukraine because that would have enormous symbolic importance. And I definitely keep fingers crossed that one of the first visit of the American president after the inauguration definitely should be in Ukraine.

Watch the clip above via CNN.