Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday will became the latest world leader to meet with Donald Trump as polls increasingly lean towards a November election win for the former president. The new British Prime Minister Keir Starmer also made a point to meet with Trump over a two-hour dinner in New York Thursday evening.
Zelensky made his case for continued U.S. aid after saying earlier this week that winning the war was a very “real” possibility.
This is a crucial moment for Ukraine as it pushes for increased military support from the Biden administration. Trump, who has contrasted US funding for Ukraine compared to what Europe has given, claims he could quickly broker a deal between Zelensky and Russian President Putin, despite Zelensky saying Trump doesn’t understand how to end the war.
“I believe I will be able to make a deal between President Putin and President Zelensky quite quickly,” Trump stated.
When asked whether Ukraine should cede territory to Russia, Trump responded, “We’ll see what happens.”
Zelensky also met with President Biden on Thursday. At a press conference, Vice President Kamala Harris attempted to contrast Biden’s stance on Ukraine with Trump’s. Harris accused Trump of wanting a deal that included Russia keeping some land. The Biden administration, though, has also included talks of a settlement that would cause Ukraine to lose some terriroty.
Members of Congress have expressed frustration with Zelensky, accusing him of partisan motives during his visit to a Pennsylvania ammunition plant.
Zelensky, meanwhile, has been critical of Trump, stating in an interview: “My feeling is that Trump doesn’t really know how to stop the war even if he might think he knows how. With this war, oftentimes, the deeper you look at it the less you understand.”
–Metro Voice and wire services