Trump meets Zelenskyy in NYC amid concerns about US support for Ukraine
Kyiv worries a peace deal brokered by Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump would lead to loss of territory.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Donald Trump in New York on Friday, aiming to secure continued U.S. support in Ukraine's defense against Russia and Vladimir Putin.
The meeting comes amid concerns that if Trump wins the upcoming presidential election in November, his administration might not provide the same level of support as the current Biden-Harris administration. Trump has expressed a desire for the conflict to end but has avoided stating whether a Ukrainian victory aligns with U.S. interests.
“I think we have a common view that the war in Ukraine must be stopped and Putin cannot win,” Zelenskyy said. “It’s very important to share our plans and steps to strengthen Ukraine.”
Reflecting on the political landscape with the U.S. election approaching, Zelenskyy noted the uncertainty following November’s results, acknowledging that only Americans will decide their president. “We understand that until November, we can’t stop Putin,” he said. “We have to act now, with our heroic soldiers on the battlefield.”
Zelenskyy also stressed the importance of U.S. support, saying, "We hope the strength of the United States will remain strong, and that’s why I decided to meet both candidates.”
Trump has repeatedly claimed he could end the conflict within “24 hours” if elected, though there are concerns that any peace deal he brokers could require Ukraine to cede territory, something Zelenskyy has firmly opposed. Commenting on the war, Trump said on Friday, “It has to end. At some point, it has to end.” He added, “Zelenskyy’s going through hell, and his country has gone through hell. It’s terrible, the whole situation.”
This meeting followed Zelenskyy’s discussions with President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris at the White House, as well as with other world leaders during the UN General Assembly. Biden has made his ability to unite Western allies against Russia a key distinction between him and Trump.
In an interview with The New Yorker earlier this week, Zelenskyy suggested Trump oversimplifies the conflict, and criticized Trump’s running mate JD Vance for being “too radical,” advocating for Ukraine to make territorial sacrifices.
Meanwhile, Trump made two critical remarks about Zelenskyy and Ukraine this week. Speaking in North Carolina, Trump referred to Ukraine as “demolished” and its people as “dead,” arguing that “any deal – even the worst deal – would’ve been better than what we have now.” He suggested that had Ukraine “given up a little bit,” its people and buildings would still be intact.
Despite these remarks, Trump later posted on Truth Social that he had a “great meeting” with Zelenskyy, adding, “If I’m elected President, the war between Russia and Ukraine will end quickly. If not, that war will never end.”
