Former President Donald Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Sept. 27 to discuss a peace settlement between Ukraine and Russia. The meeting took place at Trump Tower in New York City, and Trump expressed that he had “learned a lot” from the discussion but maintained his previous viewpoints on the war. Both leaders expressed their desire for a fair deal and an end to the conflict.
Trump had previously stated that he could broker a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia, although he did not provide specific details. Zelenskyy emphasized that the war should never have happened in the first place and called for international pressure on Russia to stop its aggression.
The GOP has shown mixed views on Ukraine, with some members calling for a demilitarized zone as part of a potential peace agreement. However, Zelenskyy rejected this idea, stating that it would require Ukraine to give up its territories.
In addition to Trump’s meeting with Zelenskyy, House Speaker Mike Johnson sent a letter calling for the removal of Ukrainian Ambassador Oksana Markarova due to her involvement in what was perceived as partisan campaign events.
Meanwhile, President Joe Biden met with Zelenskyy on Sept. 26 and announced significant steps to support Ukraine, including an almost $8 billion assistance package consisting of secure communications equipment and munitions.
The United States, along with 30 other countries and the European Union, released a joint declaration reaffirming their support for Ukraine. The declaration included freezing Russian assets until Moscow ends its war against Ukraine and commits to paying for damages caused by its aggression.
Biden also announced plans for an upcoming meeting among countries supporting Ukraine’s defense efforts next month.
