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President Volodymyr Zelensky has revealed Donald Trump told him during a call in July he is "very supportive," and would do "everything to strengthen Ukraine" if elected president.
In a preview clip of an interview with CNN to be aired on Sept. 15, Zelensky said Trump also told him "he understands how difficult it is to survive during the war."
The comments are at odds with Trump's previous public statements on Ukraine.
During the presidential debate on Sept. 10, the former president reiterated earlier statements that his primary concern was ending the war – which he has previously claimed he could do in 24 hours – but refrained from providing any concrete details.
Media reports indicated that Trump privately suggested he would end Russia’s war by pressuring Ukraine to cede occupied Crimea and Donbas to Moscow.
He voiced strong criticism of American aid to Ukraine at a campaign rally in Detroit on June 15, describing Zelensky as "maybe the greatest salesman of any politician that's ever lived" for securing substantial financial support from the U.S.
The U.S. has provided historic levels of foreign aid to Ukraine since the start of the full-scale invasion, sending over $100 billion in military assistance and budget support critical to fighting off Russia and helping the government continue to operate.
During the debate, Trump also refused to answer whether Ukraine being victorious was in the best interests of the U.S., instead insisting that it was in America’s “best interest to get this war finished and negotiate a deal."
Trump's vice-presidential running mate Sen. J.D. Vance said in an interview on Sept. 12 that Donald Trump's plan to end Russia's war could include the establishment of a special demilitarized zone between Ukraine and Russia, among other arrangements.
When asked by CNN's Fareed Zakaria how Zelensky understands Trump's comments that he would end the war in 24 hours, Zelensky dismissed the comments as "election messages," that may not reflect what his actual policies will be if he is elected president.
"I can't understand it for today because I don't know the details — what he means and what does it mean," Zelensky said, referring to Trump's alleged plan.
"My position is that the election period and election messages are election messages. Sometimes they are not very real," Zelensky said during a clip of the interview, which is set to be fully published on Sept. 15.
Zelensky did however acknowledge that Trump's statements have made some Ukrainians "nervous."
Zelensky will visit the U.S. later this month to present President Joe Biden with a “victory plan,” which he told CNN would also be presented to Vice President Kamala Harris and Trump, ahead of the upcoming November presidential election.
Ukrainian officials, including Zelensky, have stressed that Kyiv will continue to cooperate productively with any U.S. administration, regardless of the outcome of the November election.
Kate Tsurkan
