Trump to Meet Zelenskyy Following Harris’ Assurance of Support for Ukraine

Department of Research, Studies and International News 27-09-2024

Donald Trump, the Republican candidate for the upcoming U.S. presidential election, has claimed he could swiftly broker a peace deal to end the conflict in Ukraine. Despite his previous criticisms of Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Trump confirmed he will meet with Zelenskyy in New York.

This announcement follows U.S. President Joe Biden’s recent pledge of over $8 billion in military aid to Ukraine, and Vice President Kamala Harris’ reaffirmation of “unwavering” U.S. support during her meeting with Zelenskyy. Harris, Trump’s Democratic opponent in the November election, made this statement shortly before Trump disclosed his plans to meet Zelenskyy on Friday.

During his campaign, Trump has raised doubts about Ukraine’s ability to defeat Russia, questioning the extent of U.S. support for Kyiv. He also suggested that Ukraine should have negotiated a settlement with Moscow when Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022. However, Trump has reiterated his belief that he could broker peace, repeating these claims on Thursday.

“President Zelenskyy requested a meeting, and I’ll be seeing him tomorrow at around 9:45 at Trump Tower,” Trump told reporters in New York. When asked if a peace agreement might involve Ukraine ceding territory to Russia—a condition Kyiv strongly opposes—Trump responded vaguely, stating, “We’ll see what happens.”

Harris, in her remarks during her meeting with Zelenskyy at the White House, indirectly criticized those advocating for Ukraine to relinquish land for peace, calling such ideas “proposals of surrender.” This marks their seventh meeting and third encounter this year.

Trump and Zelenskyy last interacted face-to-face during Trump’s presidency, which ended in 2021, although they had a phone conversation in July. Earlier in the week, it appeared Trump might reject Zelenskyy’s request for a meeting. Zelenskyy, ahead of his trip to New York for the United Nations General Assembly, expressed a desire to present his “victory plan” to Biden, Harris, and Trump.

Tensions between the two leaders seemed to escalate after Zelenskyy’s visit to a munitions factory in Pennsylvania, accompanied by the state’s Democratic governor, Josh Shapiro, who is allied with Harris. Trump’s campaign was reportedly displeased with this visit.

On the campaign trail, Trump has continued to criticize Zelenskyy, claiming the Ukrainian president favors Harris in the upcoming election. On Wednesday, he referred to Ukraine as “dead” and “demolished.” Trump also expressed frustration with Zelenskyy’s recent comments to *The New Yorker*, in which the Ukrainian leader questioned Trump’s ability to end the war.

In response to a reporter’s question regarding Zelenskyy’s remarks, Trump asserted, “I respectfully disagree. He doesn’t know me.”