The Zelensky-Trump Conundrum
With about three months left until the U.S. presidential election, Donald Trump, who has a greater chance of winning against Joe Biden in this election, is entering the challenges of U.S. foreign policy.
The Ukraine war is one of the most significant of these challenges, and Trump has promised to end this war if he wins the November election.
Recently, after his candidacy was formalized by the Republican Party, Trump spoke with Volodymyr Zelensky, the President of Ukraine, and according to Zelensky, both parties agreed to meet in person to discuss steps for lasting peace with Russia.
Zelensky wrote that after Trump accepted his party’s nomination, this conversation took place to congratulate him on this event and to condemn the assassination attempt on him in Pennsylvania.
As reported by the President of Ukraine, during this conversation, he mentioned the vital bipartisan and bicameral support from the U.S. for Ukraine, and both parties agreed to discuss actions that could ensure fair and truly lasting peace in the region.
In his tweet, Zelensky emphasized that Ukraine will always be grateful for the U.S.’s help in strengthening our ability to resist Russia.
The attacks by Russia on our cities and villages continue every day.
The Russian invasion of Ukraine, which has killed tens of thousands on both sides, is now in its 29th month, and there is still no end in sight. Russia currently occupies about 17% of Ukraine.
Donald Trump described the conversation with the President of Ukraine as a very good call and promised to end the Russia-Ukraine war through negotiation.
Trump stated that if he wins the election on November 5th, he will end the war in Ukraine even before taking office in January.
He also said that if he had been president when the Kremlin sent its forces to Ukraine in February 2022, the war would not have happened.
The Republican candidate in the U.S. election promised in a social media post that as president, he would bring peace to the world and end a war that has claimed many lives.
He added that both sides can negotiate an agreement that ends the violence and paves the way for prosperity.
The call between Zelensky and Trump occurred amid growing concerns in Kyiv and other European capitals about the potential four-year presence of Trump in the White House.
The Republicans’ chances of winning the November 2024 election have improved following the poor performance of the current 81-year-old President Joe Biden in last month’s debate, which raised questions about his physical and mental state.
Trump has previously praised Russian President Vladimir Putin, calling the Kremlin leader’s tactics before the invasion of Ukraine genius and has repeatedly criticized NATO’s European allies for not spending more on this collective defense treaty.
Republican lawmakers in the House of Representatives, closely aligned with Trump, blocked Biden’s $61 billion aid package to Ukraine for months, resulting in Ukrainian forces facing shortages in ammunition and air defense.
Experts say Ukraine’s ammunition shortage has contributed to Russia’s territorial gains this year.
Trump has not clarified his stance on future support for Ukraine, although this week he chose Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, a vocal opponent of aid to Kyiv, as his running mate.
The 39-year-old senator has stated that the United States does not have the military capacity to simultaneously support Taiwan, Israel, and Ukraine and should prioritize the first two.
In his 92-minute speech at the Republican National Convention, Trump said that if he wins the election, he will initiate global peace and stability.
He had previously said that if he wins the election, he will resolve the Ukraine war before stepping into the White House on January 20, 2025.
However, Trump has not stated what conditions he will propose to Russia and Ukraine.