After calling Zelenskyy 'greatest salesman,' Trump to meet Ukrainian president
United States presidential candidate Donald Trump has confirmed that he will meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday in New York. The announcement came after Trump criticized Zelenskyy for his refusal to negotiate with Russia over the ongoing conflict and called him "the greatest salesman." "Every time Zelenskyy comes to the United States, he walks away with $100 billion...I think he's the greatest salesman on Earth. But we're stuck in that war unless I'm president," Trump said on Tuesday.
Trump expresses concern over Ukraine conflict
Trump said Zelenskyy will meet him at the Trump Tower. "And it's a shame what's happening in Ukraine. So many deaths, so much destruction. It's a horrible thing," he added. This statement was made shortly after Zelenskyy met with US President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris at the White House. Zelenskyy is currently in the US to participate in the UN General Assembly in New York. He is scheduled to meet Harris at the White House on Thursday.
Trump responds to Zelenskyy's criticism
When questioned about Zelenskyy's recent comments to The New Yorker magazine, where the Ukrainian leader suggested that Trump "doesn't really know how to stop the war," Trump responded, "I do believe I disagree with him. He doesn't know me." He further stated his belief in his ability to negotiate a deal to end the war, reiterating a claim he has made previously about swiftly resolving the conflict which began when Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022.
Trump criticizes US aid to Ukraine, praises Russia
Trump has stated on numerous occasions that he would immediately end the conflict in Ukraine, even if it meant the terms were advantageous to Moscow. Earlier this week, Trump criticized US aid to Ukraine and praised Russia's military history. He promised to end the conflict if elected and mocked President Biden's stance on the issue. At the UN, Zelenskyy called for global powers to force Russia into a peace settlement, rejecting any negotiations on Moscow's terms.
Zelenskyy's strong stance at the United Nations
He argued that Russia must be forced into a peace settlement and firmly rejected any negotiations on Moscow's terms, calling such proposals "insanity." His speech followed reports of increased military support for Russia from Iran and North Korea. "Russia can only be forced into peace- forcing Russia into peace as the sole aggressor in this war, the sole violator of the UN Charter," he said. Russia has called Zelenskyy's plan to force it to make peace a "fatal mistake."
