Republican candidate for the US presidential elections, Donald Trump, said on Friday that he spoke by phone with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and pledged to end the European country’s war with Russia.
“I appreciate President Zelensky for reaching out to me because, as your next President of the United States, I will bring peace to the world and end a war that has claimed so many lives and destroyed countless innocent families,” Trump said in a post on his personal page. Truth social platform.
He added: “The two sides will be able to meet and negotiate an agreement that ends the violence and paves the way forward toward prosperity.”
The United States has provided tens of billions of dollars in military aid to Kiev since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 — although a Trump victory in November’s election would put Washington’s continued support in doubt.
Zelensky confirmed the call, during which he congratulated Trump on officially becoming the Republican Party’s presidential nominee, and also wished the 78-year-old well after the attempt on his life a week ago.
“We have agreed with President Trump to discuss steps that can make peace truly just and lasting in an in-person meeting,” Zelensky said in a post on X.
“I have noted vital, bipartisan, bicameral American support for protecting our nation’s freedom and independence,” he said.
Trump and Orban meeting
Trump has repeatedly claimed that he will end the war very quickly, without providing details about how.
Last week, the former president hosted Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who met with Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier this month, at his Florida home.
Trump’s repeated praise of Putin and his reluctance to openly criticize the Russian invasion have raised fears among Ukraine’s allies that he may force the country to accept partial defeat.
He has also repeatedly suggested retreating from NATO, even undermining the alliance’s collective defense guarantee by saying he would encourage Russia to attack any members who did not meet their financial obligations.
Trump’s running mate, J.D. Vance, leads the isolationist wing of Republicans in Congress, who say the United States should abandon its aid to Ukraine.
Vance was one of the most vocal opponents of approving $61 billion in new military aid to Ukraine, which Republican lawmakers delayed for months earlier this year — a time when Russia was making gains on the battlefield.
Trump told the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee on Thursday that he would put an end to the raging international crises, saying he could “stop wars with a phone call.”
“I will end every international crisis created by the current administration, including the terrible war with Russia and Ukraine,” Trump said, without explaining how he would do so.
Zelensky said earlier this week that he and Trump “will work together” if the Republican wins the White House.
“I’m not worried about this,” he said at a press conference.
Zelensky declined to say whether he was concerned about US President Joe Biden, who is facing calls to drop his re-election campaign after a disastrous debate performance and questions about his health and mental state.
However, he admitted that the “turmoil” during the US election cycle had a “significant impact” on his country.
It is known that Trump’s relationship with Zelensky dates back to his time in the White House.
In 2019, Trump was impeached for withholding military aid to Ukraine while pressuring Zelensky to help him dig up dirt on election rival Biden — a race he lost in 2020.
