Donald Trump criticized what he called the “impeachment hoax” during his public comments ahead of his meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who is trying to cultivate the two leading presidential candidates while fending off the brutal Russian invasion.
Trump has vowed to end the war with Russia if he wins the November election and said he would reach a deal while President Joe Biden is still in office. He directed almost all of his comments during his first appearance toward what he called his first impeachment trial, where he was accused of seeking political favor by taking advantage of American military support.
As Russia makes gains in Ukraine’s eastern Donbas and sends daily drone and missile strikes on Ukrainian cities, Zelensky referenced the U.S. election and said he decided to meet with “both candidates.” He said he hopes U.S. support will be “very strong.”
After receiving Zelensky at Trump Tower, Trump thanked the Ukrainian leader for his public comments on their infamous 2019 phone call.
He said he appreciated Zelensky backing him after the conversation arose following a whistleblower report.
Donald Trump praised Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for his comments following a 2019 phone call involving his first impeachment trial. Trump said he could negotiate an end to Russia’s war with Ukraine, but declined to provide details on a solution.
“He could have bragged and played nice, but he didn’t.” “He said President Trump did absolutely nothing wrong,” Trump said. He said Zelensky was “like a piece of steel” during the impeachment trial and repeated the compliment.
The Ukrainian remained with his head tilted toward Trump, showing very little expression as Trump continued with his phone call. He then turned his head forward as Trump continued.
Trump also said he had a “great relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who ordered the invasion, and said that if he wins the election he will be able to bring about an end to the war before taking office on January 20.”
That position would lead him to negotiate during the end of President Joe Biden’s administration.
“I think we have a common opinion that the war in Ukraine must be stopped and that Putin cannot win and Ukraine must prevail,” Zelensky said in his own comment.
Zelensky stood by as Trump described their phone call. During a later appearance, Zelensky said that “Putin killed so many people and we have to do everything we can to pressure him to stop this war, and he is on our territory.”
Speaking of the war, Trump said: “It has to end.” At some point it has to end. He’s been through hell. Your country has gone through hell like few countries have ever gone through… like it has happened anywhere. Nobody has ever seen anything like it. It’s a terrible situation and I will say that I have had a great relationship.
After dodging a question during the debate about whether he wants Ukraine to win the war, Trump repeatedly returned to his own re-election. “And hopefully we’ll have a good win, because the other side wins. I don’t think we’re going to have wins with anything, to be honest with you.” He said that if he wins the election, before January 20 or “much sooner, I think we will be able to come up with something that is good for both sides.”
Trump announced the meeting on Thursday, shortly after posting a message from Zelensky requesting a meeting and vouching for his “great respect.”
Speaking after their meeting, Trump said: “We both want this to end and we both want a fair deal to be reached.”
Trump said he could push through “actually a deal pretty quickly.” It should stop and the president wants it to stop. And I am sure that President Putin wants this to end and that is a good combination.”
It was Zelensky whose comments blamed Putin for the tragic war. “Putin killed so many people and we have to do everything we can to pressure him to stop this war, and it is on our territory,” he said.
Trump said it was a war “that should never have happened.” And it wouldn’t have happened.
Zelensky said Trump had to come see his country, and Trump said he would. ‘It is a beautiful country. Beautiful weather, beautiful, everything,” he said.
