Topline
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Friday that his country’s war with Russia would end “more quickly” with Donald Trump as US president, although Trump – who previously claimed he could end the conflict in one day – and newly elected Vice President J.D. Vance was often critical of Ukraine during its years of conflict.
The president-elect has claimed he would end the war within 24 hours, and previously said Ukraine … (+)
Key facts
During a CNN town hall in May 2023, Trump said he would have settled Ukraine’s war with Russia “in one day and 24 hours” by meeting with both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Zelensky, whom Trump said both “have weaknesses and that they both have strengths,” although Trump gave no details about his plans.
Trump also suggested that European countries should provide more financial support to Ukraine.
During a debate with President Joe Biden in June, Trump claimed that if the US had had a “real president,” Russia would never have invaded Ukraine, and Steven Cheung, Trump’s communications director, said negotiating an end to the war would be a ” top priority” for Trump’s second administration.
In September, Trump claimed that Ukraine would have benefited from an earlier peace deal: “Any deal – the worst deal – would have been better than what we have now,” adding: “What deal can we make? (Ukraine has been) demolished. The people are dead. The country is in ruins.”
Trump reportedly called Putin on November 7, during which Trump advised the Russian president not to escalate Russia’s war with Ukraine. In private conversations, Trump has suggested he would support a deal that would give Russia control over territory it captured during the conflict, the Washington Post said, citing people familiar with the matter.
Trump’s transition team has discussed a new peace deal for Ukraine, the Wall Street Journal reported, in which Ukraine would pledge not to join NATO for the next 20 years, the US would continue to supply Ukraine with more weapons to secure a future Russian attack and both Russia and Ukraine would agree to establish a 1,300-kilometer demilitarized zone, guarded by an unspecified peacekeeping force.
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News Peg
Zelensky said during a radio interview with Ukrainian public broadcaster Suspiline that Ukraine’s war with Russia “will end faster with (the Trump administration’s) policies.”
who will now lead the White House,” although he did not specify how. Zelensky admitted that the situation in eastern Ukraine was “indeed difficult” and noted a “slow but steady push and advance by the Russians,” who, according to Zelensky, suffered “terrible losses.”
What did Jd Vance say about Ukraine?
Vance has opposed U.S. plans to help Ukraine in recent years. During his 2022 Senate campaign, shortly after Russia invaded Ukraine, Vance said, “I have to be honest: I don’t really care what happens to Ukraine one way or another.” During a speech at the Heritage Foundation last year, Vance said that while he admires “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.” world’. In July, Vance said the American people “will not tolerate another endless war” as he opposed $61 billion in military aid to Ukraine. In an interview with The New Yorker in September, Zelenksy called Vance “too radical” for proposing a peace plan that would require Ukraine to give up its territory.
Tangent
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 his troops. Zelensky criticized Scholz for contacting Putin, saying the German official had opened a “Pandora box.”
Important background
Discussions calling for peace between Ukraine and Russia have flared up this year. In May, Putin said he was prepared for a ceasefire in Ukraine that would recognize the current frontlines as Russian territory, although Zelensky, U.S. and other European officials have halted the plan. According to the Council on Foreign Relations, a US-based think tank, Russia occupies about 18% of Ukraine as of October 16. After Trump was elected to a second term earlier this month, Putin reportedly signaled his willingness to speak to the newly elected president about ending the war, although his demands remained unchanged. Shortly after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, Zelensky signed a decree declaring peace talks with Putin “impossible,” saying it was “clear and obvious” that the Russian leader would try to annex Ukrainian territory. Zelensky has proposed a 10-point peace plan calling on Russia to restore Ukraine’s territorial integrity and withdraw all its troops.
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