Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with 2024 Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, who said the two have a “very good relationship” Friday in New York.
Ahead of their meeting, Trump stood side-by-side with Zelensky, who recently told the New Yorker Trump doesn’t “really know how to stop the war,” expressed that he and Trump both have the “common view” that the Russia-Ukraine war must end.
Trump told reporters that the conflict, which began on Feb. 24, 2022, “should have never happened.”
PRESIDENT TRUMP: “This is a war that should have never happened. It should have never happened and it wouldn’t have happened — We’ll get it solved.” pic.twitter.com/NDa9L6dIH1
— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) September 27, 2024
“We have a very good relationship, and I also have a very good relationship, as you know, with President Putin. And I think if we win, we’re going to get it resolved very quickly,” Trump told reporters before his private meeting with the Ukrainian president.
“I hope we have more good relations between us,” Zelensky interjected.
“Oh, I see,” Trump said. “It takes two to tango, you know, and we will – we’re going to have a good meeting today. And I think the fact that we’re even together today is a very good sign.”
Donald Trump meets Zelensky in New York.
“We’re gonna have a good meeting.” pic.twitter.com/uSUQt8HJST
— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) September 27, 2024
Zelensky requested to meet with Trump, whose thoughts about achieving peace between warring Russia and Ukraine he wanted to hear “directly, and firsthand,” according to an apparent message from Zelensky shared Thursday by Trump on Truth Social.
“You know I always speak with great respect about everything connected to you, and that’s how it should be,” Zelensky wrote to Trump, according to the screenshot shared by the former U.S. president.
“I believe it’s important for us to have a personal contact and to understand each other 100%. Let me know if you are in the city at that time – I would really like for our meeting to take place, as part of our efforts to help us end this war in a just way,” the screenshot reads.
The Ukrainian president met with Vice President Kamala Harris, the 2024 Democratic presidential nominee, on Thursday. Harris said she would “ensure Ukraine prevails in this war” during joint remarks with Zelensky.
Harris departed the podium following her remarks and handshake with Zelensky as reporters shouted questions at both leaders. (RELATED: Kamala Harris Will Reportedly Skip Catholic Charity Dinner, Breaking Tradition)
Kamala bolted out of the room, ignoring questions from the media, after finishing their remarks at a White House press conference with Volodymyr Zelensky. pic.twitter.com/ykfV0je8dH
— Breitbart News (@BreitbartNews) September 27, 2024
Zelensky touched down Sunday in Scranton, Pennsylvania in a U.S. Air Force C-17A aircraft. The Ukrainian president toured a munitions factory that has been manufacturing war material for Ukraine as the country battles Russia. While in the key battleground state, Zelensky also met with Democratic Pennsylvania officials including Gov. Josh Shapiro, Sen. Bob Casey and Rep. Matt Cartwright.
During my visit to the Scranton Army Ammunition Plant, where components for artillery and mortar shells are produced, including 155 mm shells for Ukraine, I emphasized the dedication of the workers, which is truly inspiring—they are helping Ukraine stand strong in our fight for… pic.twitter.com/rs0vLZRlVU
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) September 23, 2024
Zelensky criticized Trump’s campaign rhetoric about the war in Ukraine to the New Yorker before his Pennsylvania visit. The Ukrainian president was more critical of Trump’s running mate, Republican Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance, calling him “too radical.”
Zelensky criticism of Vance stemmed in part from the vice presidential candidate’s suggestion on Sept. 11 of a hypothetical peace proposal that Russia retains the territory it has seized so that a demilitarized zone could be established along current battle lines.
Under the Biden-Harris administration, the U.S. has sent Ukraine billions of dollars in foreign aid over the past two-and-a-half years. Congress has passed five bills appropriating approximately $175 billion to Ukraine during this time period, according to the Council on Foreign Relations.
Biden announced nearly $8 billion more in military assistance for Ukraine on Thursday.