New York: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy presented his war “victory plan” to Donald Trump during a closed-door meeting on Friday, following the Republican presidential candidate’s statement that he would collaborate with both Ukraine and Russia to resolve their conflict. This marked their first in-person encounter since 2019 at Trump Tower in Manhattan.
Zelenskiy emphasized the importance of strong U.S. support as Ukraine continues its war against Russia, engaging with both Trump and his Democratic rival in the upcoming Nov. 5 election, Vice President Kamala Harris. Trump praised Zelenskiy, noting his strong relationships with both the Ukrainian leader and Russian President Vladimir Putin. “We have a very good relationship (with Zelenskiy), and I also have a very good relationship, as you know, with President Putin,” Trump told reporters. He added, “And I think if we win, I think we’re going to get it resolved very quickly.”
During his U.S. visit, Zelenskiy promoted his “victory plan”, which a U.S. official described as a repackaged request for more weapons and a lifting of restrictions on long-range missile usage. The plan envisions the ultimate defeat of Russia in the war, although some officials view this goal as unrealistic. When asked by a reporter if Ukraine should consider ceding captured territory to end the war—a stance unacceptable to Kyiv—Trump responded, “We’ll see what happens.”
At a pre-meeting press conference, when Zelenskiy remarked that he had a better relationship with Trump than Putin, Trump quipped, “Yeah, but you know it takes two to tango.” Despite their historical differences, Trump expressed satisfaction in meeting Zelenskiy, a noticeable shift from some of his previous campaign remarks. After the meeting, Zelenskiy described their talks as “very productive.”
In recent statements, Trump claimed that Zelenskiy preferred Harris to win the election and referred to him as “the greatest salesman of all time,” noting that Ukraine has received billions in military aid from the U.S. and Europe. “It’s an honor to have the president with us, and he’s been through a lot,” Trump said. “He’s been through a tremendous amount, like probably nobody else, almost nobody else in history, if you really get right down to it, and we’re going to have a discussion and see what we could come up with.”
Trump and Harris Differ on Ukraine
Trump stated that if he wins the Nov. 5 election, he would immediately begin working towards a resolution of the Ukraine conflict, despite not taking office until late January 2025. Zelenskiy, in the U.S. for the U.N. General Assembly, also met with President Joe Biden and Harris earlier in the week. During his visit, Zelenskiy toured a munitions factory in Pennsylvania with Democratic Governor Josh Shapiro, a Harris ally. This visit sparked backlash from Trump’s campaign and angered some congressional Republicans who perceived it as a campaign stop in a key battleground state.
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While it initially appeared unlikely that a meeting would occur, Trump changed his mind during Zelenskiy’s visit. The differing approaches to Ukraine between Trump and Harris reflect broader divisions within the Democratic and Republican parties regarding U.S. foreign policy.
Many Republicans, including Trump, have questioned the efficacy of U.S. funding and additional weapons for Ukraine, labeling it futile. In contrast, Democrats, led by Biden, have advocated for punishing Russia and supporting Ukraine, framing its victory as a critical national security interest.
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Although the war in Ukraine and foreign policy are currently overshadowed by domestic issues such as the economy, healthcare, and immigration, a significant majority—64%—of registered voters support Ukraine’s use of U.S.-supplied arms to strike within Russia, according to an August Reuters/Ipsos poll, with 78% of Democrats and 56% of Republicans in favor.
