NEW YORK CITY: Former President Donald Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in New York on Friday to discuss potential resolutions to the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine.
Following their meeting, Trump stated he had “learned a lot” but maintained his belief that negotiations could end the conflict. “We both want to see this end and we both want a fair deal,” he told Fox News from Trump Tower. He emphasized Zelenskyy’s desire for a swift resolution, describing him as seeking a “fair transaction.”
The meeting came after a tense week of public exchanges between the two leaders, during which Trump had questioned U.S. aid to Ukraine while also expressing a desire to help resolve the situation. “We’re going to work very much with both parties to try and get this settled,” Trump said, noting, “It has to end at some point. He’s gone through hell.”
Despite previous barbs, Trump praised Zelenskyy for handling a 2019 controversy involving a phone call where Trump pressured him to investigate political rival Joe Biden. “He could have grandstanded, but he stood strong,” Trump remarked, noting Zelenskyy’s assertion that Trump did nothing wrong.
Zelenskyy shared his peace plan during the meeting, which he had also presented to President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris the day before. “This war shouldn’t have started,” he said, condemning Putin for the violence. “We need to do everything we can to pressure him to stop this war.”
Trump insisted that his good relationship with Putin could facilitate a quick resolution. “I think if we win, we’re going to get it resolved very quickly,” he said.
