Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is in the United States this week. On Monday, he caused a stir by visiting a Scranton, Pennsylvania-based arms factory with several prominent Democrats, including Sen. Bob Casey, who’s locked in a tight race with Republican Dave McCormick, and making negative remarks regarding former President Donald Trump and his running mate, Sen. JD Vance (R-OH).
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On Wednesday, Zelensky addressed the United Nations, criticizing any efforts to broker a peace deal between his country and Russia that falls short of what he refers to as a “just peace.”
Also on Wednesday, Vance shared his thoughts on Zelensky’s comments.
In response to a question put to him regarding Zelensky’s comments and the war, Vance said:
“Well, look, the details for how Donald Trump is going to end the war in Ukraine is by not being weak and not being dumb, which is unfortunately something you can’t say for the current administration. It’s very simple. Russia didn’t invade a single one of their neighbors for the four years that Donald Trump was president, and on…the president before him and the president after him, somehow Russia keeps on invading their neighbors. It’s because they don’t respect American leadership and because our leaders aren’t smart. So what Donald Trump brings back is not just strength but intelligence to the Oval Office, and I think that’s really all you need to end this war because, look, it is not in America’s interest, it’s not in Ukraine’s interest, it’s not in Europe’s interest for this war to go on indefinitely.
“Now, you said that, you know, Zelensky criticized something I said. First of all, that’s not a plan; that’s me talking about one possible scenario for how this thing might ultimately end, but look, I don’t appreciate Zelensky coming to this country and telling the American taxpayers what they ought to do. He ought to say, ‘Thank you’ to the American taxpayers.'”
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Thursday, Zelensky met with President Joe Biden, after which Biden announced additional aid for Ukraine.
“Today I’m proud to announce a new $2.4 billion package of security assistance. I’ve also directed the Pentagon to allocate all of the remaining security assistance funding that has been appropriated to Ukraine, period, by the end of my term, which is Jan. 20,” Biden said before Zelensky separately met with Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee.
As indicated above, Zelensky also met with Vice President Kamala Harris.
Now, it appears that Zelensky will also be meeting with Trump. Thursday afternoon, Trump posted a note to Truth Social appearing to be from Zelensky (via Deputy Ambassador Denys Sienik), suggesting that the two meet while he’s stateside.
Then, during his Thursday afternoon press conference, Trump confirmed that he would, indeed, be meeting with Zelensky on Friday.
Said Trump:
“As you know, President Zelensky has asked to meet with me, and I will be meeting with him tomorrow morning at around 9:45 in Trump Tower. And it’s a shame what’s happening in Ukraine — so many deaths, so much destruction, it’s a horrible thing.”
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That should be an interesting meeting, to say the least. Will they bury the hatchet over Zelensky’s knock on Trump’s running mate? Will they come away smiling? And how will each of them spin their tête-à-tête? We’ll soon know.