US Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump stated on Friday that he had a “very good phone call” with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and pledged to end the Russia-Ukraine war via negotiations. President Zelenskyy also acknowledged the call and expressed his appreciation for the US military support.
The conversation between the two leaders, known for their complex history, signifies their first dialogue since Trump’s departure from the White House. This event arises amidst European apprehensions regarding Trump’s potential approach to the Russia-Ukraine conflict should he triumph in the upcoming presidential election in November.
“President Zelenskyy of Ukraine and I had a very good phone call earlier today. He congratulated me on a very successful Republican National Convention and becoming the Republican nominee for President of the United States,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social.
President Zelenskyy of Ukraine and I had a very good phone call earlier today. He congratulated me on a very successful Republican National Convention and becoming the Republican nominee for President of the United States.
He condemned the heinous assassination attempt last…
— Donald J. Trump Posts From His Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) July 19, 2024
The former U.S. President stated that Zelenskyy denounced the “heinous assassination attempt” against him last Saturday and commented on the “American people uniting in a spirit of unity during these times.”
He continued, “I appreciate President Zelenskyy for reaching out because I, as your next President of the United States, will bring peace to the world and end the war that has cost so many lives and devastated countless innocent families. Both sides will be able to come together and negotiate a deal that ends the violence and paves a path forward to prosperity.”
Notably, the United States has provided tens of billions of dollars in military assistance for Kyiv since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. However, if Trump wins the November election, it would put Washington’s continued support to Kyiv into question.
Zelenskyy Condemns Attack On Trump
Discussing his conversation with Trump, Zelenskyy mentioned that he congratulated the 78-year-old leader on officially becoming the Republican Party’s presidential nominee. “I reached out to Donald Trump to offer congratulations on his nomination and to denounce the appalling assassination attempt in Pennsylvania. I extended wishes for his strength and safety going forward. I also acknowledged the crucial bipartisan and bicameral support from America for safeguarding our nation’s liberty and independence,” Zelenskyy stated in a post on X.
I spoke with @realDonaldTrump to congratulate him on the Republican nomination and condemn the shocking assassination attempt in Pennsylvania. I wished him strength and absolute safety in the future.
I noted the vital bipartisan and bicameral American support for protecting our…
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) July 19, 2024
He said Ukraine will always be grateful to the United States for its help in strengthening its ability to resist Russian terror, as Kremlin “attacks on our cities and villages continue every day.”
“We agreed with President Trump to discuss at a personal meeting what steps can make peace fair and truly lasting,” he added.
Trump-Zelenskyy Relationship
Trump’s association with Zelenskyy dates back to his tenure in the White House. In 2019, Trump faced impeachment for withholding military aid to Ukraine and pressuring Zelenskyy to investigate his political rival Biden—a contest he ultimately lost in 2020.
Zelenskyy said earlier this week that he and Trump would “work together” if the Republican won the White House. “I’m not worried about this,” he told a news conference.
The Ukrainian President, however, declined to say whether he was worried about US President Joe Biden, who has been facing calls to drop his reelection campaign following a disastrous debate performance and questions over his health and mental acuity.
He did, however, acknowledge that “turbulence” during the US election cycle was having a “big impact” on his country.
Trump’s Support To Russia
This isn’t the first instance of Trump claiming he could quickly end the war, though he has not provided specifics. Recently, the former president welcomed Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban at his Florida estate; Orban had met with Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier in the month.
Trump’s frequent praise for Putin and reluctance to outright criticize the Russian invasion has stirred concerns among Ukraine’s allies that he would force the country into accepting partial defeat, according to a report by AFP.
He has also repeatedly suggested backing away from NATO, even undermining the alliance’s collective defense guarantee by saying he would encourage Russia to attack any members not who had not met their financial obligations.
JD Vance, Trump’s running mate, is reported to be at the forefront of the isolationist faction among congressional Republicans, advocating for the cessation of U.S. aid to Ukraine. Vance was a prominent adversary of the USD 61 billion military aid package for Ukraine, a proposal that Republican legislators delayed for months earlier this year—a period during which Russia achieved advancements on the battlefield, according to an AFP report.
Trump told the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee on Thursday that he would bring an end to raging international crises, saying he could “stop wars with a telephone call.”
“I will end every single international crisis that the current administration has created, including the horrible war with Russia and Ukraine,” Trump said, without elaborating on how.
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