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Former President Donald Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday, September 27, 2024, at Trump Tower in New York City. This marked their first face-to-face meeting in over four years, coming amid ongoing tensions between Ukraine and Russia.
During the meeting, Trump expressed confidence in his ability to broker a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia if re-elected in 2024. "We're going to work very much with both parties to try and get this settled and get it worked out," Trump stated, standing alongside Zelenskyy. "It has to end. At some point, it has to end. He's gone through hell. His country has gone through hell."
The former president emphasized his relationships with both Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin, stating, "We have a very good relationship, and I also have a very good relationship, as you know, with President Putin." This assertion prompted Zelenskyy to interject, saying he hoped they would "continue to have a good relationship" with the United States.
Trump's approach to the Ukraine-Russia conflict has been a subject of debate. He has previously suggested that the war would not have occurred under his administration and has been critical of ongoing U.S. aid to Ukraine. In contrast, the Biden administration has maintained strong support for Ukraine's defense efforts.
The meeting also touched on past controversies. Trump referenced his 2019 impeachment, which stemmed from a phone call with Zelenskyy, dismissing it as a "hoax" and praising Zelenskyy for being "like a piece of steel" during that period.
Zelenskyy, for his part, emphasized the importance of U.S. support, stating, "We understand that after November ... we hope that the strength of the United States will be very strong." He also expressed his belief that he and Trump share a common view on Ukraine's need to prevail against Russia.
The encounter comes at a critical time, with the outcome of the 2024 U.S. election potentially having significant implications for the ongoing conflict. Trump's suggestion of negotiating a deal "that's good for both sides" has raised questions about his approach to resolving the war, should he return to office.
As the meeting concluded, Trump told Fox News that his position on the war had not changed, describing it as a "complicated puzzle" and stating it was "too early to say" what a fair deal would entail.
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