Donald Trump railed about what he called the “impeachment hoax” during public comments ahead of his meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, as he seeks to cultivate both major presidential candidates while fending off the brutal Russian invasion.
Trump pledged to end the war with Russia if he wins the November election and said he would make a deal while President Joe Biden is still in office. He focused almost all of his comments during their first appearance on what he called his first impeachment, accusing him of seeking a political favor by using U.S. military support.
As Russia makes gains in Ukraine’s eastern Donbas and carries out daily drone and missile attacks on Ukrainian cities, Zelenskiy referred to the US elections and said he decided to meet “both candidates.” He said he hopes U.S. support will be “very strong.”
After welcoming Zelensky to Trump Tower, Trump thanked the Ukrainian leader for his public comments about their infamous 2019 phone call.
He said he appreciated Zelensky’s support after the conversation emerged following a whistleblower report.
Donald Trump praised Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for his comments after a 2019 phone call that was part of his first impeachment. Trump said he could negotiate an end to Russia’s war with Ukraine, but declined to provide details of a solution
“He could have stood in the stands and played cute, 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, and repeated the compliment.
The Ukrainian stood with his head turned toward Trump and showed very little expression as Trump continued about their phone conversation. He then turned his head straight ahead as Trump continued.
Trump also said he had a “great relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who ordered the invasion,” and claimed that if he wins the election he can end the war before taking power on January 20 .
That stance would push him to negotiate during the end of President Joe Biden’s administration.
“I think we have the common view that the war in Ukraine must be stopped and that Putin cannot win and that Ukraine must prevail,” Zelensky said in his own comments.
Zelensky stood by as Trump described their phone conversation. During a later appearance, Zelensky said: “Putin has killed so many people and we must do everything we can to pressure him to stop this war, and he is on our territory.”
Trump said of the war: “It has to end. At some point it has to end. He’s been through hell. His country has gone through hell like few countries ever have… as if it happened everywhere. No one has ever seen anything like it. It’s a terrible situation and I can say I’ve 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 reelection. ‘And hopefully we get a good victory, because the other side wins. I honestly don’t think you’re going to get any wins from anything.” He said if he wins the election, by Jan. 20 or “long before then, I think we can work out something that’s good for both parties.”
Trump announced the meeting Thursday, shortly after posting a message from Zelensky requesting a meeting and vouching for his “great respect.”
After their meeting, Trump said, “We both want this to end and we both want a fair deal to be made.”
Trump said he could “actually reach a pretty quick deal.” It has to stop and the president wants it to stop. And I’m sure President Putin wants this to stop and that’s a good combination.”
It was Zelensky whose comments placed the blame for the tragic war on Putin. “Putin has killed so many people and we must do everything we can to pressure him to stop this war, and he 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 should come visit his country, and Trump said he would. ‘It’s a beautiful country. Beautiful weather, beautiful, everything,” he said.
