Trump Ukraine talks/ Zelenskyy Trump meeting/ Trump and Zelenskyy on war/ Newslooks/ NEW YORK/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Donald Trump in New York on Friday, discussing the ongoing war with Russia amid growing tensions between the two. While Zelenskyy stressed the need to stop Vladimir Putin, Trump highlighted his 2019 impeachment involving Ukraine and expressed confidence that the war could be resolved quickly if he were to win the election. The meeting comes as US support for Ukraine becomes a divisive issue in the 2024 election.
Trump and Zelenskyy Meet Amid Ukraine War Tensions: Quick Looks
- Key meeting: Trump and Zelenskyy met to discuss Ukraine’s war against Russia, with the former president signaling optimism about a resolution.
- Impeachment revisited: Trump revisited his 2019 impeachment, praising Zelenskyy for not involving Ukraine in the U.S. political dispute at the time.
- Differing views: Trump criticized U.S. aid to Ukraine, while Vice President Kamala Harris, Zelenskyy’s ally, condemned Trump’s calls for a quick deal to end the war.
Trump, Zelenskyy Discuss Ukraine War as US Election Looms
Deep Look
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Donald Trump in New York on Friday in a conversation framed by rising tensions over U.S. support for Ukraine as it continues its defense against Russia’s invasion. The meeting came at a pivotal moment, with the 2024 U.S. election approaching and Trump’s foreign policy stance on Ukraine a major point of contention between him and Vice President Kamala Harris, his Democratic rival.
Trump and Zelenskyy Address War and Past Impeachment
The meeting, which took place at a New York conference room, began with Trump emphasizing the significance of their face-to-face encounter. “The fact that we’re even together today is a very good sign,” Trump said, referencing the importance of ongoing dialogue amid the war.
For his part, Zelenskyy stressed the shared goal of ending the conflict with Russian President Vladimir Putin. “I think we have a common view that the war in Ukraine has to be stopped and Putin can’t win,” Zelenskyy said.
Trump also used the occasion to revisit the 2019 impeachment inquiry, triggered after he asked Zelenskyy to investigate Joe Biden and his son, Hunter Biden, while withholding military aid to Ukraine. Trump praised Zelenskyy for not yielding to pressure during the political turmoil, stating, “He could have grandstanded and played cute, but he didn’t do that. He said, ‘President Trump did absolutely nothing wrong.’”
Zelenskyy had previously distanced himself from the U.S. political controversy during the 2019 inquiry, telling reporters at the time there was “no blackmail” involved in Trump’s request. He reiterated then that Ukraine wanted no involvement in U.S. domestic politics.
US Election Impacts Support for Ukraine
This meeting arrives at a critical juncture, with Ukraine’s ongoing struggle against Russia shaping up as a divisive issue in the U.S. presidential race. Trump has consistently voiced skepticism about U.S. support for Ukraine, calling Zelenskyy a “salesman” for successfully securing billions of dollars in military aid and weapons.
In contrast, Vice President Kamala Harris, during her recent meeting with Zelenskyy, reaffirmed the U.S. administration’s strong commitment to Ukraine. Harris criticized Trump’s calls for a quick peace deal, labeling them “proposals for surrender” rather than genuine peace proposals. Trump, however, dismissed the idea that he was advocating for surrender and reiterated his belief that Ukraine could win the war.
Criticism and Divergent Views on the War
Throughout the week, Trump maintained a critical tone toward Ukraine’s defense efforts. Speaking at a rally in North Carolina, he described Ukraine as “demolished” and said the situation would have been better if the country had made “a bad deal” with Russia early on. According to Trump, such a deal would have saved lives and infrastructure.
“If they made a bad deal it would’ve been much better. They would’ve given up a little bit, and everybody would be living,” Trump said, emphasizing his belief that a quick resolution could have prevented the widespread destruction Ukraine now faces.
As the meeting concluded, Trump responded to a question about whether Ukraine could still win the war by stating, “Sure. They could.” He also commented on his strong relationships with both Zelenskyy and Putin, suggesting that a Trump victory in the U.S. election would help achieve a swift resolution to the conflict. “If we win, I think we’re going to get it resolved very quickly,” Trump added.
Zelenskyy, cutting into Trump’s remarks, expressed hope for continued positive relations, saying, “I hope we have more good relations between us.”
Zelenskyy’s View on Trump’s Stance
Before the meeting, Zelenskyy had voiced concerns about Trump’s views on the conflict. In an interview with The New Yorker, he suggested that Trump was oversimplifying the war and criticized his running mate JD Vance for being too “radical.” Zelenskyy implied that Vance’s comments, which suggested Ukraine should sacrifice territory for peace, did not align with Ukraine’s national interest.
In response, Trump reiterated his stance that pushing for a negotiated peace would be more beneficial for Ukraine than continuing the fight. Still, Zelenskyy’s position remained firm: Ukraine cannot afford to lose any territory to Russia.
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