Trump and Zelensky make nice after tensions over Ukraine war

AFP | Washington

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Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky held high-stakes talks yesterday following a series of attacks by the White House hopeful on the Ukrainian president as the looming US election raises questions over long-term US support for its ally in its war with Russia.

Foreign policy hawks have voiced fears that a second Trump administration would spell disaster for Ukraine’s defense, as the Republican has repeatedly defended Russia’s President Vladimir Putin while voicing skepticism over US funding for Kyiv.

Zelensky had met Trump’s election rival Kamala Harris, as well as President Joe Biden, on Thursday and both pledged their support for Kyiv in its US-funded defense against Putin’s invasion.

Trump -- who this week accused Zelensky of refusing to “make a deal” to end the conflict -- vowed to bring peace if he wins a second term in office as the two men addressed reporters after the tete-a-tete at Trump Tower in New York.

“It’s a shame but this is a war that should have never happened and we’ll get it solved,” said the Republican White House hopeful at Trump Tower. “It is a complicated puzzle... Too many people dead. Too many beautiful cities.”

Before the meeting -- which lasted less than an hour -- Trump had hailed his alliance with Zelensky -- but added: “I also have a very good relationship -- as you know -- with President Putin.” “I think we have common view that the war in Ukraine has to be stopped, and Putin can’t win, and Ukraine has to prevail,” Zelensky added.