Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has spent his week in the United States, touring a munitions plant in Pennsylvania, addressing the U.N., meeting with members of Congress, meeting with President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. As announced late Thursday afternoon, Zelensky also took the opportunity while in New York to meet with former President and GOP nominee Donald Trump at Trump Tower.
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Ahead of the meeting, Trump and Zelensky addressed the press with some brief remarks:
TRUMP: Well, thank you very much. It’s an honor to have the President with us. And he’s been through a lot. He’s been through a tremendous amount, like probably nobody else β almost nobody else in history, if you really get right down to it. And we’re going to have a discussion and see what we can come up with. But…a great honor to have you with us. Thank you very much.
ZELENSKY: Thank you so much. Thank you so much, Mr. President. Thank you so much for this meeting. Five…five years past, since we have, yes, we had meeting, again, here in New York, in September. And now, through a lot of challenges β Ukraine and the United States. And, of course, I want to discuss with you, I think, where we are together. I think we have common view that the war in Ukraine has to be stopped, and Putin can’t win, and Ukrainians have to prevail. And I want to discuss with you the details of our plan.
During the preliminary remarks, Trump praised Zelensky for not “playing cute” during his first impeachment (over their phone call), noting that Zelensky, when asked about it, said, “President Trump did absolutely nothing wrong.”
There was even some levity during the remarks:
TRUMP: So, we have a very good relationship…and I also have a very good relationship, as you know, with President Putin, and I think if we win, I think we’re going to get it resolved very quickly. Very β I really think we’re going to get it resolved quickly β
ZELENSKY: I hope we have more good relations with us β
TRUMP: β We’re going to have, oh, ha ha, I see…yeah, but, you know, it takes two to tango.
The two then held a closed-door meeting, after which they again addressed the media.
The clip above picks up in the middle of Zelensky’s comments, but he says something here that seems highly appropriate β and perhaps, is a nod to Trump’s running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, who suggested Zelensky should be thanking the American people in response to his pointed criticism of Vance earlier in the week. Note also what Trump has to say about learning a lot.
ZELENSKY: …strongness of our soldiers, of our people. Of course, it will bring us closer to the peace β we need just peace, we need just peace. It’s so important to have just peace for the people, especially for the families who, you know, who lost their children β it’s big tragedy.
REPORTER: President Trump, have you changed your thoughts on how this war should end, what you think should be done? Or do you still stand some of the previous statements β
TRUMP: Well, I learned a lot, but I think I haven’t changed from the standpoint that we both want to see this end, and we both want to see a fair deal made. And it’s gotta be fair, and I think that will happen at the right time β I think it’s going to happen. The President wants it to end, and he wants it to end as quickly as possible. He wants a fair transaction to take place. And I think β I mean, right now, I’m campaigning, so right now, I don’t have much to do with it, other than we’re doing very well in terms of the campaign, and I’ve been saying that I believe if I win, we’re going to have a very fair and, I think, actually rather rapid deal.
It should stop, and the President wants it to stop. And I’m sure President Putin wants it to stop β and that’s a good combination. And so we want to have a fair deal for everybody.
…
ZELENSKY: This war shouldn’t be started, and I think that the problem that Putin killed so many people. And, of course, we need to do everything to pressure him to stop this war, and he is in our territory β that is most important to us β he is in our territory, and how to stop the war, to pressure him as we can…we have to do it.
REPORTER: And do you think the U.S. is the best β
ZELENSKY: You ask the leader of support. You ask the leader in the world. And, of course, we are really aware of the support of the United States β we are thankful to the United States, the people of America. And, of course, we understand that United States can be the leader through any negotiations. You know that we have the peace summit, and want to organize the second one, and we count β we count on this word.
REPORTER: I know you’re both in a rush β last question. Will there be another meeting in the near future between you?
TRUMP: Could very well happen. But I think the President said it the best β this is a war that should have never happened. It should have never happened. And it wouldn’t have happened. It’s a shame, but this is a war that should have never happened. And we’ll get it solved β it’s a complicate puzzle, very complicate puzzle β but we’ll get it solved and people get on with their lives. Too many people dead; too many beautiful cities β I’ve seen those cities, they’re so beautiful β and they…I don’t know how you can ever rebuild them the way they were, it’s not possible, but β
ZELENSKY: (smiling) You have to come, by the way, to see us.
TRUMP: I will. It’s a beautiful country, beautiful weather, beautiful everything. But we have to get this over with. But it’s a war and…it’s a war that should have never happened.
A couple of observations: First, this was a win-win for Trump and Zelensky. They both benefited from the publicized meeting, standing together, addressing the press. Zelensky benefits by shoring up support from Trump and his supporters, which he’ll need should Trump win in November. Trump benefits by showing that he’s got leverage β and something other world leaders (including the Left’s darling, Zelensky) want to be a part of. And it sends a message to Putin, too, that the dealmaker may soon be in play and there might yet be a resolution he can accept and live with.
Second, notice Zelensky’s body language before and after the meeting. Before, he looked tense, anxious. After, he looked much more relaxed. Why exactly that is, it’s hard to say, but my sense is that it’s a good thing. We’ll see.
