Throughout the presidential campaign, the candidates have been expressing contrasting priorities when it comes to handling the war between Russia and Ukraine, which began when Russia invaded in early 2022. Kamala Harris has voiced consistent support for Ukraine’s war effort, while Donald Trump’s statements have been more geared toward ending the war, implicitly on Russia’s terms.
Trump, throughout his presidency, was known for being exceptionally close with Russian President Vladimir Putin, to the point where those ties were extensively investigated. Meanwhile, Trump’s 2019 phone call to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in which he demanded an investigation of then-candidate Joe Biden, led to his first impeachment.
Zelensky is visiting the United States this week and has already met with Harris. The Ukrainian president visited the White House on Thursday, where he asked for the continued help of the U.S. In an interview with The New Yorker, Zelensky said, “Trump doesn’t really know how to stop the war even if he might think he knows how.”
Zelensky with Kamala Harris at the White House — their seventh meeting together … pic.twitter.com/WlXFmq5KfJ
— Howard Mortman (@HowardMortman) September 26, 2024
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“In candor, I share with you, Mr. President, there are some in my country who would instead force Ukraine to give up large parts of its sovereign territory, who would demand that Ukraine accept neutrality and would require Ukraine to forego security relationships with other nations,” Harris said at the White House, per CNN.
The Ukrainian president also plans to meet with Trump on Friday morning in New York. And on Thursday, Trump took the rare step of sharing what he claimed was a note from Zelensky, in which the Ukrainian leader asked for a meeting:
“All of us in Ukraine want to end this war with a just peace. And we know that without America this is impossible to achieve. That’s why we have to strive to understand each other and remain in close contact. Days ago, we requested a meeting with you, and I really want to hear your thoughts directly, and firsthand,” Zelensky says in the message shared by Trump. The Ukrainian leader added that he would be able to be in New York in Friday.
It’s not exactly clear what Trump hoped to accomplish by sharing the purported message from Zelensky. Is he viewing it as a “power move,” that Zelensky appears to be begging to meet with him? That would certainly be a Trump-like thing to do, although it can’t possibly get him in as much trouble as past interactions with Zelensky have.
Photo courtesy of Political Tribune photo library.
