Linh NguyenDonald Trump met with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky at Trump Tower in New York on Friday, declaring it time to end Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine. The Republican presidential candidate had previously criticized Zelensky during his campaign, making their meeting appear unlikely until shortly before it took place.
Standing beside each other, Zelensky expressed a mutual understanding that the war must conclude, emphasizing that “Putin can’t win.” He mentioned that he intended to share details of his “victory plan” with Trump during their conversation.
Despite their turbulent history, Trump claimed he maintained a good relationship with Zelensky, stating, “I also have a very good relationship, as you know, with President Putin. I think if we win [the election], we’re going to get it resolved very quickly.” He acknowledged the challenges Zelensky faces, saying, “It has to end; [Zelensky] is going through hell, his country’s going through hell like few countries have ever.”
Their relationship has seen significant ups and downs. Trump faced impeachment in 2019 over accusations that he pressured Zelensky to investigate the Biden family. During that call, Trump had urged Zelensky to look into Joe Biden and his son Hunter.
Despite their past disagreements, Trump praised Zelensky’s handling of the war issue during their recent meeting. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Trump has echoed Moscow’s narrative about the conflict. When asked during a recent presidential debate whether he wanted Ukraine to win, Trump avoided providing a direct answer.
Before the meeting, Trump reiterated his belief that he could “work out something” to end the war if he were elected president, well ahead of Joe Biden’s departure from office in January. However, he has declined to clarify whether he supports Ukraine ceding territory to Russia to bring about a resolution.
Although Zelensky has been in the U.S. since Sunday, confirmation of their meeting only came late Thursday night, when Trump shared a text message from Zelensky. In the message, Zelensky expressed the importance of having personal contact to fully understand each other.
Tensions between Zelensky and the Republican Party have increased in recent days, especially after Zelensky visited an arms factory in Scranton, Pennsylvania, with Democratic officials, including Governor Josh Shapiro. Some Republicans criticized the visit as a partisan event aimed at supporting Democrats, while House Speaker Mike Johnson labeled it “election interference.”
Trump has recently ramped up his criticism of continued U.S. funding for Ukraine, calling Zelensky the “greatest salesman on Earth.” In response, Zelensky told the New Yorker that he believes Trump “doesn’t really know how to stop the war.” When asked about Zelensky’s comments, Trump asserted, “I do believe I disagree with him. He doesn’t know me.”
On Thursday, Zelensky also met with President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris at the White House to discuss his “victory plan.” This plan aims to pressure Russia into agreeing to a diplomatic solution to the war. Earlier that day, Biden announced a $7.9 billion military assistance package for Ukraine.
As Zelensky visits the U.S., drone attacks continue in Ukraine. A recent Russian drone strike in Izmail, a port city along the River Danube, resulted in three fatalities and injuries to 14 others. Reports indicate that two young boys and a girl were among the injured.
Romania’s defense ministry warned that a Russian drone may have briefly crossed into Romanian airspace during the attack, raising concerns among NATO members.
