No Meeting Between Trump and Zelenskyy as Tensions Rise Over Ukraine Aid

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Former President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy are not expected to meet during Zelenskyy's high-profile visit to the United States this week, despite initial reports hinting at the possibility. Trump’s campaign confirmed on Tuesday that no such meeting is scheduled, putting to rest the rumors circulating after the Ukrainian leader's arrival in New York for the United Nations General Assembly.

Zelenskyy is in the U.S. to rally support for Ukraine in its ongoing war against Russia. He is set to address the UN General Assembly and meet with President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, presenting his "victory plan" for Ukraine. Yet, a potential face-to-face with Trump—a Republican candidate known for his critical stance on U.S. involvement in Ukraine's defense—will not occur​.

This cancellation comes after Trump hinted last week that a meeting might take place. He had said he would "probably" meet Zelenskyy, but by Tuesday, his campaign clarified that no official meeting was on the agenda. Trump's reluctance to meet the Ukrainian president appears connected to recent developments, including Zelenskyy's visit to a munitions factory in Scranton, Pennsylvania—a key swing state in the upcoming 2024 election​.

During a rally in Pennsylvania, Trump criticized Zelenskyy, accusing him of aligning with the Democrats, specifically Vice President Harris, in a bid to secure additional military aid. The former president, long skeptical of U.S. support for Ukraine, described Zelenskyy as "the greatest salesman in history" for his ability to consistently secure American financial backing. Trump has been vocal in his opposition to the U.S. aiding Ukraine's defense, repeatedly emphasizing his intent to end the war quickly if re-elected​.

Zelenskyy's visit to Scranton—a politically significant location for Trump—seems to have exacerbated tensions. Trump has criticized the extensive military aid the Biden administration has provided to Ukraine, arguing that the U.S. is bearing an unnecessary burden. In Savannah, Georgia, Trump underscored his view that the war is not in America's best interest, mocking Biden's promise to support Ukraine "until Kyiv wins." Trump drew historical comparisons to suggest that Russia would not lose, referencing both Napoleon's failed invasion of Russia and the Soviet Union's role in defeating Nazi Germany during World War II​.

The strained relationship between Trump and Zelenskyy is not new. During his presidency, Trump famously withheld military aid to Ukraine in an attempt to pressure Zelenskyy into investigating then-candidate Joe Biden and his son, Hunter Biden, leading to Trump's first impeachment. That history adds another layer of complexity to any potential meeting between the two leaders.

Zelenskyy, for his part, has expressed skepticism about Trump's understanding of the conflict. In recent interviews, the Ukrainian leader dismissed Trump’s proposed peace plan, which essentially involves freezing the war and halting military aid, as impractical and dangerous for Ukraine. Zelenskyy has reiterated that any solution involving Ukraine ceding territory to Russia is unacceptable.

While Trump continues to campaign on promises of quickly ending the war in Ukraine through diplomacy with Russia, Zelenskyy has remained firm that Ukraine will not surrender its sovereignty or territorial integrity. The divergence in their views likely played a role in the absence of a formal meeting this week.

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