Janice R. Andrews
Trump Meets Zelensky, Expresses Gratitude for Impeachment Defense Amid War Discussions
In an unexpected encounter at Trump Tower, former U.S. President Donald Trump thanked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for his role in countering what Trump termed the “hoax” impeachment of 2019. The meeting, originally scheduled to address the ongoing Ukraine-Russia conflict, took an intriguing turn as Trump, currently campaigning for the 2024 presidential election, praised Zelensky for consistently denying any blackmail attempts during the impeachment scandal.
The impeachment controversy erupted following a 2019 phone call between Trump and Zelensky, where Trump allegedly pressured the Ukrainian leader to investigate then-presidential candidate Joe Biden and his son, Hunter, who had ties to a Ukrainian gas company. Despite Trump’s impeachment by the House on abuse of power charges, he was later acquitted by the Senate. Throughout the ordeal, Zelensky maintained that there was “no blackmail” from Trump, a stance that significantly bolstered Trump’s defense.
During their recent meeting, Trump expressed his appreciation for Zelensky’s public support during the impeachment hearings. “He could have grandstanded and played cute, but he didn’t do that. He said President Trump did absolutely nothing wrong,” Trump told reporters. While some observers noted that Trump may have overstated Zelensky’s defense, the former president’s gratitude was evident.
The meeting also served its intended purpose of discussing the ongoing war in Ukraine. Zelensky sought Trump’s input on Ukraine’s “Victory Plan” to counter Russian aggression, coinciding with his broader diplomatic efforts to garner international support. Trump, who has repeatedly claimed he could swiftly end the Ukraine-Russia war if re-elected, told reporters, “We have a very good relationship, and I also have a very good relationship, as you know, with President Putin. If we win, we’re going to get it resolved very quickly.”
However, Trump also criticized Zelensky’s approach, accusing him of being unwilling to negotiate with Russia and blaming him for the continued destruction in Ukraine. Zelensky, maintaining a diplomatic stance, interjected during Trump’s comments, saying, “I hope we have more good relations between us.” The Ukrainian president has previously expressed skepticism about Trump’s ability to stop the war, stating in a recent interview with The New Yorker that he doesn’t believe Trump truly knows how to end the conflict.
The unexpected meeting came amid Trump’s recent criticism of Zelensky on the campaign trail. Earlier in the week, Trump claimed that Zelensky “refuses to make a deal” with Putin and suggested that any negotiated agreement, even a poor one, would have been preferable to the current devastation in Ukraine.
As discussions between Trump and Zelensky continue, the world watches closely to see if Trump’s self-proclaimed negotiation skills can contribute to resolving the conflict that has ravaged Ukraine. While Trump’s assertions about quickly ending the war if re-elected may resonate with his supporters, doubts persist, even from Ukraine’s leader himself.
This meeting underscores the complex interplay of past political events and current international crises, highlighting the ongoing influence of Trump in global affairs despite no longer holding office.
