Ukrainian President Zelensky suggests the war with Russia could conclude sooner if Donald Trump regains the presidency, hinting at potential diplomatic shifts.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky believes that once Donald Trump becomes the US president, it will lead to a conclusion of the war with Russia “sooner” than it would have otherwise.
Zelensky mentioned that he had a “constructive exchange” with Trump during their phone conversation following Trump’s victory in the US presidential election.
He did not mention if Trump had set any conditions for potential discussions with Russia, but he stated that he hadn’t heard anything from him that conflicted with Ukraine’s stance.
Trump has repeatedly stated that his main goal is to conclude the war and halt what he describes as a drain on U.S. resources due to military assistance provided to Ukraine.
“The new leadership in the White House has policies that will undoubtedly lead to an earlier end of the war. This is their strategy and pledge to their citizens,” Zelensky stated in an interview with Suspilne, a Ukrainian media outlet.
He emphasized the importance of ensuring that Ukraine does everything possible for the war to conclude next year through diplomatic channels.
Zelensky stated that the battlefield situation is challenging as Russian forces continue to make progress.
He stated that US legislation permits him to meet with Trump only after the inauguration in January.
Trump and Zelensky have had a contentious relationship for quite some time. In 2019, Trump faced impeachment over allegations that he pressured Zelensky to find damaging information about the Biden family.
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Despite years of differences, Trump has maintained that he had a very positive relationship with Zelensky.
When the two met in New York in September, Trump mentioned that he had “learned a lot” from their discussion and expressed confidence that he could bring about a swift resolution to the war.
Trump has not yet revealed his plans for ending the war.
His Democratic opponents have accused him of getting too close to Russian President Vladimir Putin and argue that his approach to the war essentially surrenders Ukraine, posing a threat to all of Europe.
However, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, after speaking with Trump following his election victory, informed the German media that the incoming US leader held a “more nuanced” stance on the war than was commonly believed.
Scholz mentioned in an interview with the Süddeutsche Zeitung newspaper that his conversation with Trump was “perhaps surprisingly, a very detailed and good discussion.”
Earlier this year, the US House of Representatives sanctioned a $61 billion (£49 billion) military aid package for Ukraine to assist in countering Russia’s invasion.
The United States has been the largest provider of arms to Ukraine, supplying or pledging weapons and equipment valued at $55.5 billion (£41.5 billion) from February 2022 through the end of June 2024, as reported by the Kiel Institute for the World Economy, a German research institution.
