Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has launched a “diplomatic offensive” to convince US President-elect Donald Trump to maintain American military and financial support for Ukraine’s war effort against Russia, sources from Zelenskyy’s office have confirmed to El País.
Zelenskyy is concerned that Trump, who had vowed during his election campaign to end the multibillion-dollar US assistance to Ukraine, may follow through on this pledge once he takes office in January 2025. El País says the Ukrainian leader is therefore prioritizing the task of building closer ties with Trump in the coming weeks, in the hope of persuading the new US president to continue the vital aid amid the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian war.
Zelenskyy’s diplomatic push comes as he believes Trump’s rhetoric as a candidate may differ from how he will act as president.
“What is said in a national election campaign for a domestic audience is one thing, and the international legacy that defines a US president is another. And Trump is no exception,” said Dan Rice, president of the American University in Kyiv and a former US military advisor, according to El País.
“I had an excellent call with President [Donald Trump] and congratulated him on his historic landslide victory—his tremendous campaign made this result possible. I praised his family and team for their great work,” Zelenskyy remarked in a notably enthusiastic tone on Trump’s victory in the November 5 presidential election.
This contrasts sharply with Trump’s past rhetoric towards Zelenskyy, which included mocking the Ukrainian leader’s frequent visits to the US to secure military aid:
“Zelenskyy is the best salesman in history. Every time he comes to the United States, he goes home with $100 billion. This has to end,” Trump said during his campaign.
Andrii Yermak, Zelenskyy’s right-hand man, also expressed positive sentiments about the meeting he and the Ukrainian president had with Trump in New York in September.
“We felt very good vibes from that meeting,” Yermak said.
However, the article notes that Trump’s advisors are reportedly considering options to freeze the “conflict” in Ukraine, rather than seek a lasting peace settlement.
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