Trump Pledges to Resolve Ukraine-Russia Conflict ‘Very Quickly’ in Meeting with Zelenskyy
Former U.S. President Donald Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in New York on Friday, marking a pivotal moment as tensions grow between Ukraine and Republican leaders. Trump vowed to bring a swift resolution to the ongoing Ukraine-Russia war, should he win the upcoming presidential election, while Zelenskyy emphasized their shared belief that Russian President Vladimir Putin must not prevail.
The high-profile meeting at Trump Tower came amidst concerns in Ukraine that future U.S. military aid could be jeopardized if Trump reclaims the presidency. Zelenskyy aimed to repair strained relations and presented a detailed plan to secure Ukraine’s victory in the war. Trump, known for his controversial ties to both Zelenskyy and Putin, expressed confidence that the conflict could be quickly resolved under his leadership.
“We have a very good relationship,” Trump remarked, standing beside Zelenskyy. “I also have a good relationship with President Putin. If we win, I believe we’ll resolve this very quickly. But, as you know, it takes two to tango.”
Zelenskyy, acknowledging their last face-to-face meeting five years ago, echoed Trump’s sentiment but stressed the importance of defeating Russia. “We share a common view that the war in Ukraine must be stopped, and Putin cannot win. Ukraine must prevail,” he stated.
The meeting also revisited past controversies, notably Trump’s impeachment over a 2019 phone call in which he asked Zelenskyy to investigate Joe Biden. Trump thanked the Ukrainian leader for his handling of the situation, praising Zelenskyy for stating publicly that Trump did “nothing wrong,” helping to end the impeachment effort.
However, the future of U.S. support for Ukraine remains uncertain. Trump has previously suggested cutting off aid to force negotiations with Moscow, a stance that has alarmed Zelenskyy and other Ukrainian officials. Trump reiterated his position, stating, “It has to end at some point… [Zelenskyy’s] gone through hell, and his country has been devastated like few others.”
After the meeting, Zelenskyy described the discussions as “very productive” on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter. He revealed that he presented a “Victory Plan” for Ukraine, outlining the critical steps needed to defeat Russia. “We reviewed the situation in Ukraine and the devastating impact of the war. Putin cannot win, and Ukrainians must prevail,” Zelenskyy wrote.
The meeting followed Zelenskyy’s appearances at the United Nations General Assembly and the White House, where Vice President Kamala Harris subtly criticized Trump’s past stance on Ukraine. Harris warned that some U.S. leaders were pushing Ukraine to surrender territory to Russia, which she characterized as “dangerous and unacceptable.”
The ongoing tension between Trump and Zelenskyy reignited this week after Zelenskyy questioned Trump’s understanding of the war and criticized his running mate, JD Vance, for proposing a peace deal that could see Ukraine cede land to Russia. Trump, in turn, attacked Zelenskyy in a campaign speech, accusing him of making “nasty aspersions.”
The stakes of the Trump-Zelenskyy relationship are high, as Trump’s unpredictable foreign policy and admiration for Putin could significantly impact the outcome of the war. Adding to the complexity, Trump posted a private message from Zelenskyy on Truth Social ahead of their meeting, raising concerns about the confidentiality of future negotiations.
As the war continues to devastate Ukraine, Zelenskyy is seeking every possible ally to ensure that his country emerges victorious, while Trump’s vision of a resolution remains controversial, both domestically and abroad.
Source: The Guardian
