During a rally in Pennsylvania on September 23, former President Donald Trump accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of wanting the Democrats to win the 2024 US elections.
Trump, the Republican presidential candidate, suggested that Zelensky is benefiting from US aid to Ukraine, claiming, “Zelensky is the greatest salesman in history. Every time he comes into the country, he walks away with $60 billion.”
This statement contrasts with views expressed by some Trump allies, who argue that Ukraine would prefer Trump in office due to his perceived ability to negotiate peace with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Trump reiterated his position, stating that, if elected, he would broker peace between Zelensky and Putin but did not provide specific details of how.
Zelensky’s office did not respond to Trump’s remarks, which come amid concerns in Kyiv over a potential shift in US policy should Trump return to power.
Trump has consistently criticized US military aid to Ukraine, describing it as wasteful and declining to state he wants Ukraine to win the war against Russia.
Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign responded to Trump’s comments, with spokesperson Morgan Finkelstein accusing Trump of lacking commitment to Ukraine’s success in the war.
“If America walks away from Ukraine, Putin would be sitting in Kyiv with his eyes on the rest of Europe and our NATO allies,” Finkelstein said.
Zelensky is currently in the US attending the United Nations General Assembly in New York. During his visit, he toured a weapons manufacturing facility in Pennsylvania with Democratic Governor Josh Shapiro, an ally of Harris.
He has increased pressure on the United States to let Kyiv strike military targets deep inside Russian territory after his representatives met senior US officials in Washington on Saturday.
Washington has provided Ukraine with more than $50 billion worth of military aid since 2022, but has limited the use of its weapons to Ukrainian soil and defensive crossborder operations.
Zelenskiy said guided aerial bombs killed six people and injured 97 in Kharkiv on Friday, with more attacks on Saturday. These could be averted only “by striking Russian military airfields, their bases, and the logistics of Russian terror.”
This visit, which took place in a key battleground state, has angered some Trump supporters, as Pennsylvania is crucial in the 2024 election.
Trump and Zelensky have not met in person since Trump’s presidency. Although they spoke on the phone in July, Trump has not committed to a meeting during Zelensky’s current US trip.
Zelensky has previously expressed uncertainty about how Trump would handle US-Ukraine relations if re-elected but hoped that military support would continue.
Ukraine, which has relied heavily on US and allied support since Russia’s invasion in 2022, is pushing for decisive action to end the war. Zelensky has called for the withdrawal of Russian forces and the restoration of Ukraine’s borders as conditions for peace.
However, Putin insists that peace talks can only begin if Ukraine abandons its NATO ambitions and cedes occupied territories to Russia.
Despite concerns, Zelensky told ABC News that Ukraine is “closer to the end of the war than we think.” He plans to unveil a “victory plan” during his US visit, outlining steps to accelerate the end of the conflict and Ukraine’s membership in NATO.
Putin’s recent setbacks in defending Russian territory, including the Ukrainian army’s incursion into the Kursk region, have further highlighted the Kremlin’s vulnerabilities.
As both Trump and Harris court voters from key demographics, particularly those of Eastern European descent in Pennsylvania, Ukraine remains a central issue in the US presidential race.
The outcome of the election could significantly impact US-Ukraine relations and the broader conflict with Russia.
