In a recent interview with the New Yorker, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed sharp criticism of Republican vice presidential candidate Sen. JD Vance, marking some of his most pointed remarks against a U.S. official since the war began.

Zelenskyy has maintained a measured approach regarding the 2024 U.S. presidential election, engaging with both President Biden, Vice President Harris, and former President Trump.

However, in the interview, Zelenskyy labeled Vance “radical” and warned that his proposal to end the war in Ukraine would instead trigger a “global showdown.”

Vance proposed that, if elected, Trump would collaborate with Russia, Ukraine, and European leaders to negotiate a peace deal granting Moscow control of the territories it illegally seized in 2022.

This agreement would entail establishing a demilitarized zone along the front lines, fortifying Ukraine to deter future Russian aggression, and Ukraine relinquishing its NATO aspirations—a proposal Western security experts deem a significant concession.

“If this were a plan, then America is headed for global conflict,” Zelenskyy stated. “It would imply that whoever asserts control over territory – not the rightful owner but whoever came in a month or a week ago with a machine gun in hand – is the one who’s in charge.”

The Ukrainian president cautioned that this approach would not only be detrimental to Kyiv and its citizens but also threaten the global order in regions like the Middle East and areas where China challenges Western interests.

“We’ll end up in a world where might is right,” Zelenskyy warned. “It will be a completely different world, a global showdown.”

Despite his criticism of Vance, Zelenskyy highlighted a contrasting experience with Trump.

“I should say that it hasn’t been like this with Trump. He and I talked on the phone, and his message was as positive as it could be from my point of view,” Zelenskyy told the New Yorker, recounting Trump’s assurances of understanding and support.

Trump has faced criticism for lacking specifics on his administration’s aid to Ukraine, although he has vocalized discontent with the level of support Washington has provided Kyiv.

The former president has pledged to end the war before assuming office in January 2025, without elaborating on his strategy.

“Trump makes political statements in his election campaign,” Zelenskyy observed. “My feeling is that Trump doesn’t really know how to stop the war, even if he might think he knows how.”

“With this war, oftentimes the deeper you look at it the less you understand,” Zelenskyy added.

Zelenskyy, currently in the U.S. for the United Nations General Assembly, plans to meet with Biden to present a “victory plan” aimed at solidifying Western unity against Russia and bolstering Ukraine’s security.

While details remain undisclosed, the plan is anticipated to include requests for increased military aid and a strengthened security framework, potentially incorporating measures to expedite Ukraine’s EU accession and other alliances.

“A strong Ukraine will force Putin to the negotiating table. I’m convinced of that,” Zelenskyy asserted.

Concerns persist that Biden might decline requests for further U.S. aid to Ukraine with the presidential election looming.

“That’s a horrible thought. It would mean that Biden doesn’t want to end the war in any way that denies Russia a victory. And we would end up with a very long war, an impossible, exhausting situation that would kill a tremendous number of people,” he added.

Zelenskyy acknowledged Ukraine’s resilience in navigating “Plan B” scenarios and refrained from blaming Biden for the war’s outcome.

“At the end of the day, he took a powerful, historic step when he chose to support us at the start of the war, an action that pushed our other partners to do the same,” he added.

However, Zelenskyy cautioned that a negotiated peace settlement could only be achieved if Kyiv received the necessary resources to engage in meaningful talks with Moscow.

“If you don’t want this war to drag on, if you do not want Putin to bury us under the corpses of his people, taking more Ukrainian lives in the process, we offer you a plan to strengthen Ukraine,” he stated. “It is not a fantasy and not science fiction, and importantly, it does not require the Russians to cooperate to succeed.

“The plan spells out what our partners can do without Russia’s participation. If diplomacy is the desire of both sides, then before diplomacy can be effective, our plan’s implementation depends only on us and on our partners,” Zelenskyy added.

Vance’s campaign did not respond to Digital’s request for comment.