Ukraine’s war with Russia will end ‘faster’ with Trump as president, says Zelensky

On By Littum

Upper line

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Friday that his country’s war with Russia would end “quicker” with Donald Trump as US president, although Trump – who previously claimed he could end the conflict in one day – and Vice President-elect JD Vance have often been critical of Ukraine during its years-long conflict.

Key facts

During a CNN town hall in May 2023, Trump said he wanted Ukraine’s war with Russia “to be settled in one day, 24 hours,” by meeting with both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Zelensky, both of whom Trump said have “weaknesses and they both have strengths, ” although Trump did not give details about his plans.

Trump also suggested that European countries should provide more financial aid to Ukraine.

While Trump debated President Joe Biden in June claimed if the United States had a “real president,” Russia would never have invaded Ukraine, and Steven Cheung, Trump’s communications director, said negotiating an end to the war was a “top priority” for Trump’s second administration.

In September, Trump claimed Ukraine would have benefited from an earlier peace deal: “Any deal – the worst deal – would have been better than the one we have now,” adding: “What deal can we make? (Ukraine is) torn down. The people are dead. The country is in ruins.”

Trump reportedly called Putin on Nov. 7, where Trump advised the Russian president not to escalate Russia’s war with Ukraine, and in private conversations Trump has suggested he would support a deal in which Russia would control the territory it captured during the conflict . according to to the Washington Post, citing people familiar with the matter.

Trump’s transition team has discussed another peace deal for Ukraine, Wall Street Journal reportedwhere Ukraine would promise not to join NATO for at least 20 years, the US would continue to supply Ukraine with more weapons to prevent a future Russian attack, and both Russia and Ukraine would agree to establish an 800-mile demilitarized zone patrolled of an unspecified peacekeeping force.

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News Peg

Zelensky, during a radio interview with Ukraine’s public broadcaster Suspilne, reportedly said Ukraine’s war with Russia will “end faster with the policies of (Trump’s administration)

it will now lead the White House,” though he did not specify how. Zelensky admitted that the situation in eastern Ukraine was “actually difficult” and noted a “slow but steady pressure and advance from the Russians” that Zelensky claimed was facing “terrible losses.”

What has Jd Vance said about Ukraine?

Vance has opposite plans for the United States to provide aid to Ukraine in recent years. During his 2022 senatorial campaign, shortly after Russia invaded Ukraine, Vance said: “I have to be honest with you, I don’t care what happens to Ukraine one way or the other.” During a speech at the Heritage Foundation last year, Vance said while admiring the “brave Ukrainians,” he criticized the country for having the “most corrupt leadership and government in Europe and perhaps the most corrupt leadership anywhere in the world.” In July, Vance said the American people “will not tolerate another endless war” while opposing $61 billion in military aid to Ukraine. In one interview with The New Yorker in September, Zelenksy called Vance “too radical” for proposing a peace plan that requires Ukraine to give up its territory.

Key

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz spoke with Putin on Friday, marking the first conversation between the two leaders since Russia invaded Ukraine. Scholz called on Putin to end Russia’s war in Ukraine and withdraw its troops. Zelensky criticized Scholz to contact Putin, saying the German official had opened a “Pandora’s box.”

Key background

Discussions about peace between Ukraine and Russia have increased this year. In May, Putin said he was prepared for a ceasefire in Ukraine that would recognize the current front lines as Russian territory, although Zelensky, US and other European officials have shut down that plan. Russia occupies about 18% of Ukraine per October 16, according to to the Council on Foreign Relations, a US-based think tank. After Trump was elected for a second term earlier this month, Putin has reportedly signaled that he was ready to talk to the president-elect about ending the war, although his demands were unchanged. Shortly after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, Zelenskiy signed a decree declaring peace talks with Putin “impossible” and saying it was “clear and obvious” that the Russian leader would seek to annex Ukrainian territory. Zelensky has proposed a 10-point peace plan, which calls on Russia to restore Ukraine’s territorial integrity and withdraw all its troops.

Further reading

Forbes‘Pure fiction’: Kremlin denies Trump called Putin and warned against escalation in UkraineBy Siladitya Ray