During his visit to the USA, Ukrainian President Zelensky met Republican presidential candidate Trump. The ex-president is a vehement critic of US billions in aid – and yet spoke of a “great” meeting.
Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky met with former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump during his trip to the United States. Both met in Trump’s high-rise building, Trump Tower, in New York, as US media reported. “It’s an honor to have the president with us,” said Trump. “We have a common view that the war in Ukraine must be stopped,” Zelensky said.
The Ukrainian president described the meeting with Trump as “very productive.” Both agreed that the war, which has been going on for two and a half years, must be ended, Zelenskyj wrote in English on the social media platform . The Ukrainians must prevail.”
“Victory Plan” discussed
Zelensky laid out his “victory plan” to Trump during the meeting after the Republican presidential candidate said he would work with both Ukraine and Russia to end their conflict. Trump said the meeting was “great” and praised Zelensky, but said he also had a solid relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin. “We have a very good relationship (with Zelensky), and as you know, I also have a very good relationship with President Putin,” Trump told reporters. “And I think if we win we will solve the problem very quickly,” he added.
Trump announced the meeting at a press conference the evening before. Zelensky had asked for it, said the Republican. The last face-to-face meeting between the two took place in 2019, when Trump was still president.
Trump is a massive critic of Ukraine aid
Trump is a vehement critic of US billions in aid to Ukraine. If he is re-elected, Trump repeatedly announces that he will end the war immediately – but without giving details of how he plans to achieve this. He is urging the leadership in Kiev to conclude an agreement with Russia.
Critics accuse the ex-president that this amounts to a capitulation by Ukraine. Trump is taking over the position of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Biden promises new aid
Zelensky is currently in the United States for the United Nations General Assembly. In Washington, he met, among others, with US President Joe Biden and his deputy Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential candidate, to promote his country’s continued support in its defense against Russia.
Biden promised the Ukrainian president billions in new aid and invited people to a summit of the Ukraine Contact Group on October 12 in Germany.