Pennsylvania – Former President Donald Trump made headlines on Monday during a campaign rally, asserting that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy desires a Democratic victory in the upcoming 2024 US elections, where Trump is set to face Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris.
Trump characterized Zelenskiy as "the greatest salesman in history," claiming that each visit to the United States results in significant financial aid for Ukraine. "He wants them to win this election so badly, but I would do differently—I will work out peace," Trump stated, highlighting his intention to engage with both Zelenskiy and Russian President Vladimir Putin to negotiate an end to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war if he were to win the election.
While Trump has consistently criticized US aid to Ukraine, labeling it a waste of money, he did not provide any specific details about his proposed peace plan. The campaign for Harris has yet to respond to Trump’s comments, which come amid a tightly contested race according to recent polls.
Zelenskiy arrived in the United States on Sunday to participate in sessions at the U.N. General Assembly, where he urged international partners to help achieve "a shared victory for a truly just peace." Since Russia's invasion began in February 2022, Washington and its allies have provided substantial military and financial assistance to Ukraine, coupled with multiple rounds of sanctions against Moscow.
The ongoing conflict has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths, displacing millions and wreaking havoc on Ukrainian infrastructure. President Putin has indicated that peace talks can only commence if Kyiv concedes territories in eastern and southern Ukraine and abandons its aspirations for NATO membership. Conversely, Zelenskiy has persistently called for the complete withdrawal of Russian troops and the restoration of Ukraine’s borders as they existed post-Soviet Union.
As tensions continue to escalate, the geopolitical ramifications of the war remain profound, with Ukraine and its Western allies framing Russia’s actions as imperialistic aggression, while Putin claims his invasion is a defensive response to an antagonistic West.
