Mr Trump instructed a press convention on Tuesday: “I hear that he’s approaching Friday. Actually, it’s OK with me if he’d wish to. And he want to signal it along with me. And I perceive that’s an enormous deal, very massive deal.”
“We’ve just about negotiated our deal on earth and numerous different issues,” Mr Trump added.
“We’ll be trying … normal safety for Ukraine in a while. I don’t assume that’s going to be an issue. There are lots of people that need to do it, and I spoke with Russia about it. They didn’t appear to have an issue with it. So I believe they perceive they’re not going again. And as soon as we do that, they’re not going again.”
Nevertheless, Mr Trump’s press convention didn’t mark a turning level for him, as he has continued to precise his opposition to the Ukraine battle. He insisted it will have “by no means occurred” had he been president when it started in February 2022.
Here’s a timeline of the connection between Mr Trump and Mr Zelensky.
Timeline of Donald Trump’s relationship with Volodymyr Zelensky
The connection began positively when then-US President Mr Trump referred to as Mr Zelensky on April 21, 2019, to congratulate him on changing into Ukraine’s president.
A number of days later, Joe Biden introduced he would problem Mr Trump within the 2020 US election. That very same week, the Democrat’s son Hunter Biden left his position on the board of Burisma, a Ukrainian pure gasoline firm.
Mr Trump misplaced the election to Mr Biden the next yr and the occasions could have sown seeds of discontent between the pair.
Volodymyr Zelensky and Donald Trump had been as soon as on good phrases
REUTERS
Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022 and Mr Trump was supportive of Kyiv’s defence — saying Russian President Vladimir Putin’s offensive was “appalling”. He additionally referred to as Mr Zelenksy “courageous”.
Mr Trump introduced plans to run once more for president and mentioned: “Earlier than I even arrive on the Oval Workplace, I’ll have the disastrous battle between Russia and Ukraine settled.”
Former US president Joe Biden was an ally to Volodymyr Zelensky
AFP by way of Getty Pictures
Each international locations had been set to carry elections, however solely the US vote proceeded, which Mr Trump gained. Nevertheless, Mr Zelensky declared martial legislation in Ukraine, suspending the election.
In September, Mr Zelensky instructed the New Yorker journal: “My feeling is that Trump would not actually know how you can cease the battle, even when he may assume he is aware of how.”
Mr Trump retaliated by saying: “Any deal, even the worst deal, would have been higher than what we have now proper now.”
The 2 leaders spoke after Mr Trump’s election win and vowed to work collectively.
Nevertheless, it later grew to become obvious that this decisiveness won’t align with Mr Zelensky’s expectations.
The identical week, he wrote on Reality Social: “A dictator with out elections, Zelensky higher transfer quick or he’s not going to have a rustic left.” He additionally referred to as Mr Zelensky “a modestly profitable comic”, referring to the Ukraine chief’s former profession.
He added of the Ukrainian: “He’s achieved a horrible job, his nation is shattered, and MILLIONS [in Ukraine] have unnecessarily died.” Mr Trump additionally falsely claimed that Mr Zelensky had “talked the USA of America into spending $350bn to enter a battle that couldn’t be gained”.
Mr Zelensky hit again: “With all due respect to President Donald Trump as a frontrunner… he’s residing on this disinformation house… We’re standing robust on our personal two ft. I’m relying on… the unity of Europe and the pragmatism of America.”
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