Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in an interview broadcast yesterday for "Fox News" TV; (Fox News) that he received "a lot of direct information" by Donald Trump that the former US president will support Ukraine in the war against Russia if he is re-elected in the presidential elections in November, Reuters reported.
Zelensky was in the US for the session of the UN General Assembly and on Friday presented Trump in a closed-door meeting with his “plan for victory” in the war. Previously, the candidate for the presidency from the Republican Party said that he would work with both Ukraine and Russia to end their conflict, BTA clarifies.
In an interview with “Fox News“ after this meeting, Zelensky said: “I don't know what will happen after the elections and who will be president ... But I received very direct information from Donald Trump that he will be on our side, that he will support Ukraine”.
Zelensky used his visit to the US to announce his "victory plan", which a US official described as a reformulated demand for more weapons and lifting restrictions on the use of long-range missiles. The plan assumes Russia's final defeat in the war, the official said. Some officials see that goal as unrealistic, Reuters notes.
Zelensky, who also met with US Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris and President Joe Biden, said he was seeking united US support for the ongoing war with Russia and did not endorse either candidate in the presidential election in the US.
„I don't want to get involved in the election period... I don't want to lose one or another part of the Americans", Zelensky told “Fox News”.
On Friday, Trump said he had the pleasure of meeting with Zelensky – a marked change in tone from some of his previous campaign speeches.
Differences between Trump and Harris on Ukraine are a reflection of views in the Democratic and Republican parties and on the role of the United States in the world, notes Reuters.
Trump and some Republicans in Congress have questioned the cost of U.S. funding and additional weapons for Ukraine in its two-year battle against Russia, calling it useless.
And Democrats, led by Biden, are pushing for Russia to be punished and Ukraine strengthened, portraying Ukraine's victory as vital to US national security.