Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy recently invited former President Donald Trump to Ukraine in response to Trump’s claim that he could bring peace to the Russo-Ukrainian War in 24 hours if reelected. Trump had previously accused President Joe Biden of mishandling the war and claimed he could easily resolve it. However, Zelenskyy pushed back on Trump’s assertion during an appearance on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” stating that Trump couldn’t bring about peace without ceding Ukrainian territory to Russia.
Zelenskyy explained that if Trump wasn’t willing to give up Ukrainian territory to Putin, he couldn’t manage the war or bring peace. Currently, Russia occupies Crimea and the eastern provinces of Ukraine. Zelenskyy also revealed that he hasn’t spoken with Trump since he left office in January 2021.
When asked if he thought the U.S. would continue to support Ukraine if Trump were to be reelected, Zelenskyy said he didn’t know and that it depended on the opinion of Americans and their support for Ukraine. Support for Ukraine in the U.S. has become increasingly partisan, with Republicans taking an America-first approach and Democrats advocating for continued support.
The subject of Ukraine aid has been prominent on Capitol Hill, particularly following President Biden’s request for $106 billion in aid for Ukraine, Israel, and other international endeavors. House Speaker Mike Johnson has expressed openness to providing further funding in exchange for enhanced border security, while Biden has demanded funding for multiple fronts in a single package.
Lawmakers also face the urgent task of funding the U.S. government before the November 17 deadline to avoid a shutdown.