Former President Donald Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in New York City on Friday, where he expressed confidence that, if reelected, he could bring the Russia-Ukraine war to a resolution that would be "good for both sides."
"We have a very good relationship. I also have a very good relationship with President Putin, and I think if we win, we’re going to get it resolved very quickly," Trump said during their meeting.
Standing alongside Zelensky and addressing reporters, Trump emphasized, "At some point, [the war] has to end. [Zelensky's] gone through hell. His country has gone through hell."
Russia's war on Ukraine began in February 2022 after the annexation of Crimea and an invasion aimed at "demilitarizing and denazifying" Ukraine, according to Russian President Vladimir Putin. The International Criminal Court has since launched a war-crimes investigation into Russia, issuing arrest warrants for Putin and other officials.
In response to Trump’s comments about his relationship with Putin, Zelensky said, "I hope we can have more good relations with us," to which Trump replied, "It takes two to tango, and we will."
Trump has repeatedly claimed that Russia would not have invaded Ukraine if he were president. However, during a presidential debate on September 10, Trump avoided directly stating whether he wanted Ukraine to win the war. After the meeting, Trump told Fox News that his position on the war had not changed, adding, "We both want to see this end, and we both want to see a fair deal made." He called the war a "complicated puzzle."
Zelensky, however, has expressed skepticism about Trump's approach, stating in an earlier interview that "Trump doesn't really know how to stop the war even if he might think he knows how." He criticized Trump's running mate, Senator JD Vance, for his suggestions on resolving the conflict.
Zelensky remarked, "The idea that the world should end this war at Ukraine's expense is unacceptable."
Trump's meeting with Zelensky followed discussions between President Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and the Ukrainian president the previous day, where U.S. officials reiterated their support for Kyiv's defense. Harris stated that her support for Ukraine’s security is "unwavering," adding, "We must defend our democratic values and stand up to aggressors."
Comments
Post a Comment