Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky revealed that former US President Donald Trump expressed “strong support” for Ukraine during a phone call in July. Zelensky mentioned that he viewed Trump’s support as an election promise rather than a concrete commitment. This information was shared during an interview on cable news network CNN.
According to Zelensky, during the call with Trump back in July, the former US president expressed his support for Ukraine and acknowledged the difficulties of surviving during times of conflict. Zelensky wanted to share his plans with Trump and gauge his reaction.
However, when asked about whether Trump supported Ukraine’s specific peace proposal, Zelensky emphasized that during elections, campaign statements should not always be taken as reality. He mentioned that such information can make people nervous.
On June 15th, Trump strongly criticized the amount of US aid provided to Ukraine during a campaign rally in Detroit, stating that it cost the United States a significant amount of money.
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the US has provided the highest level of foreign aid in history to support Ukraine, with over $100 billion in military assistance and budgetary support. This aid is crucial in helping Ukraine repel the Russian invasion and support the functioning of the Ukrainian government.
During a debate with Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate for 2024, Kamala Harris, on September 10th, Trump did not directly answer whether Ukraine winning is in the best interest of the US but reiterated his hope to end the war through reaching an agreement.
While some are concerned that if Trump is re-elected, he may pressure Ukraine to make concessions and reach an agreement with Russia at the expense of national interests, Zelensky’s interview with CNN seemed to alleviate those concerns as he highlighted Trump’s “strong support” for Ukraine.
When asked by Zakaria in the interview about how the war could be ended, Zelensky emphasized the need for Ukraine to maintain a position of strength in order to achieve peace.
“It’s when you’re very strong. When you’re very strong. And they know that you are strong,” he said. “You have to be as strong as possible to influence their society.”
This exchange sheds light on the complexities and challenges facing Ukraine in its ongoing conflict with Russia, and the importance of international support to help ensure Ukraine’s sovereignty and stability in the region.