Donald Trump has announced that he will meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in New York on Friday. The meeting is scheduled for around 9:45 AM ET at Trump’s Trump Tower.
This comes despite earlier reports suggesting the meeting might be canceled due to rising anger among senior Republicans after Zelensky visited Pennsylvania, a crucial swing state in the U.S.
On Thursday, Zelensky met with U.S. President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris to discuss his “victory plan,” which aims to encourage Russia to agree to a peaceful resolution of the war.
After the meeting, Trump stated, “It’s a shame what’s happening in Ukraine. So many deaths, so much destruction. It’s a horrible thing.”
He expressed confidence in his ability to broker a deal between Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin, though he did not provide specific details.
The backdrop to this meeting includes tensions within the Republican Party. Some Republicans were upset by Zelensky’s visit to an arms factory in Biden’s hometown of Scranton, Pennsylvania, accusing him of participating in a partisan campaign event. House Speaker Mike Johnson labeled the visit as “election interference.”
Trump and Zelensky’s relationship is complex. Trump was impeached in 2019 for allegedly pressuring Zelensky to investigate Joe Biden and his son, and he has recently been critical of U.S. funding for Ukraine.
Zelensky, in a recent interview, expressed doubt about Trump’s ability to stop the war, to which Trump responded, “I do believe I disagree with him. He doesn’t know me.”
This meeting is significant as it occurs against a backdrop of increasing partisan divisions and scrutiny regarding U.S. support for Ukraine.
The BBC reports on these developments, highlighting the ongoing tensions and the potential implications for both leaders.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c7810y11dyjo