Trump meets with Zelensky amid tensions and Republican criticism of Ukraine

2024-09-27 18:44:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is meeting today at Trump Tower in New York with former President Donald Trump. Before the meeting, Mr. Trump said that his relations with both Mr. Zelensky and Russian President Putin are very good and that if he wins the election, he will commit to ending the war as soon as possible. The meeting comes after strong criticism that Mr. Trump has made in recent days against Mr. Zelenskyy. The Ukrainian president was also hosted yesterday in a meeting by President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris to discuss Washington's support for Ukraine. Meanwhile, Republican lawmakers in Congress condemned Mr. Zelenskyy's visit to a Pennsylvania munitions factory, calling it an "electoral activity" organized, they said, "to help Democrats." Voice of America correspondent Patsy Widakuswara reports.

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump said today he would work with Ukraine and Russia to end the war, ahead of a meeting in New York with Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskiy.

"We have a very good relationship, but I also have a very good relationship, and with President Putin. And I think that if we win, we will solve this issue very quickly. But you know it takes two to dance a tango. I think that the fact that we are together today is a very good sign and if we are going to win the elections, I think that before I take the mandate of the president on January 20, we can do something that is good for both parties. I think the time has come," Mr. Trump said.

Speaking to reporters at Trump Tower, Mr Zelenskiy said he would discuss with Mr Trump his "win plan" for Ukraine.

Today's meeting comes after former President Trump has increased his criticism of Mr. Zelenskyy and the Biden administration in recent days, blaming them for prolonging the war that began with the Russian attack on Ukraine in February 2022.

"An agreement would have been reached if we had a capable president instead of a president who has prolonged the war. Biden and Kamala allowed this to happen by feeding Zelenskyy with money and ammunition, as has never happened in any country," said former President Donald Trump.

Mr. Trump's comments have created anxiety not only in Ukraine, but also in several European capitals that have supported Kiev's war effort.

"To suddenly give Moscow all that leverage, calling into question the arms that are sent to Ukraine, or the political support for that country, means handing the victory to Moscow," Ian Lesser, an expert at the Fund, told VOA. German Marshall based in the United States.

On Thursday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with US President Joe Biden at the White House.

"Let me be clear. Russia will not win the war. Ukraine will triumph and we will continue to stand by them every step of the way," said President Biden.

Mr Zelenskyy is urging Mr Biden to allow Ukraine to use US weapons to strike targets deep inside Russian territory as part of his victory plan.

"I discussed the victory plan with President Biden. Today we are preparing to discuss the details to strengthen it, to coordinate our positions, views and approach," said Mr. Zelenskyy.

But the White House said no announcement is expected soon on the matter.

Meanwhile, Republican lawmakers criticized Mr. Zelenskyy's visit on Sunday to a munitions factory in Pennsylvania, a battleground state for November's presidential election.

They said that the visit was "an electoral activity", organized according to them "to help the Democrats". Republicans called for the removal of Ukraine's ambassador to the United States, Oksana Markarova.

"We're facing a close, heated race, and we don't need foreign countries to step in and make their opinions heard at a time like this," said House Republican Speaker Mike Johnson.

Mr. Zelenskyy held a special meeting with Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic candidate for president. She underlined that it is up to Ukraine to decide how the war should end.

Ms. Harris criticized Republican Vice Presidential candidate JD Vance, whose proposal to end the war would mean a Ukraine with less territory and not joining NATO.

"These proposals are the same as Putin's, and let's be clear, they are not proposals for peace. Instead, they are proposals to surrender, which is dangerous and unacceptable," she said.

Before Mr. Zelenskyy's visit, the United States announced $8 billion in new aid to Ukraine, which, among other things, includes armaments for Patriot air defense systems./ Voa