Former President Donald Trump reportedly spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky last week Friday with the result of the US 2024 elections potentially looming over the future of the Russia-Ukraine war.
There are fears that a second term for Trump would drastically impact the US' posture towards Ukraine in its ongoing conflict with Russia. Zelensky keeps pushing global leaders to continue holding up support for his nation's interests in the war.
The Facts
With less than four months to the US elections, Trump and the Democratic Party have taken sharply contrasting views on the conflict in Ukraine. President Joe Biden has been an unrelenting supporter of Ukraine in the war, while vocally criticizing Russia’s invasion in an increasingly tense relationship with the Kremlin. Conversely, Trump has extolled Russian President Vladimir Putin for years, while putting forward an “America First” policy in foreign policy matters.
The Washington Post reports that the former President had privately disclosed that he could end the conflict in Ukraine by pressuring the country to let go of some regions. Trump also reportedly said he’d reduce crucial US military aid to Ukraine.
However, Trump’s well-known stance in the Russia-Ukraine war isn’t the only threat to American military aid in Ukraine. Senator J.D. Vance’s selection as Trump’s running mate further entrenches fears that a second term for Trump could significantly alter America’s stance in the war. Vance has publicly appeared uninterested in Biden's approach to the war. The Senator voted against a significant aid package recently while strongly criticizing America's foreign support to Ukraine.
However, both Trump and Zelensky recently spoke last week Friday, with both parties releasing press statements with slightly different accounts of the conversation. Trump's call with Zelensky comes as one of many conversations he's having with foreign leaders as he pursues a second term at the Oval Office. However, this conversation is crucial for American foreign policy toward Ukraine in the war.
The “Fake News”
In both accounts of the conversation, both leaders remarked that Zelensky congratulated Trump on emerging as the Republican nominee for the Presidential elections while condemning the assassination attempt on him at a Pennsylvania rally earlier this month. However, Zelensky’s press secretary Serhiy Nikiforov added extra “interesting” details about the call.
Nikiforov reports that Zelensky called Putin a common murderer while admonishing Trump to disregard attempts to justify Putin’s actions. Zelensky’s spokesman also said that Trump asked to disbelieve the ‘‘fake news’’ that Russia could benefit if he emerged as the US leader again. Nikiforov pegged the account by stating that "it's too early for specifics," while addressing the possibility of Trump visiting Ukraine.
Trump has yet to make any statements regarding Nikiforov's account publicly. However, Trump remarked overtly during a debate with Biden in June that he would push to end the conflict quickly if he won the election.
Summary
Should Trump emerge triumphant in the US 2024 elections, the implications of a Trump presidency for Ukraine could cause a drastic shift on the situations of the Russian-Ukraine war. Trump wants America to cut down on aid provisions while running mate J.D. Vance recently voted against significant funding to Ukraine. However, Zelensky and Trump recently spoke with each other, depicting that both parties could find some middle ground should Trump win the US 2024 elections.