Trump to Meet with Zelenskyy Amidst Campaign Criticism of Ukraine

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump announced he will meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in New York on Friday, just hours after President Joe Biden unveiled a new $8 billion military aid package for Ukraine, Al Jazeera reports.

The meeting comes amidst Trump’s repeated criticism of Zelenskyy on the campaign trail, where he has questioned the scale of US support for Ukraine.

“President Zelenskyy has asked to meet with me, and I will be meeting with him tomorrow morning at around 9:45 in Trump Tower,” Trump told reporters in New York.

Trump’s announcement follows a visit by Vice President Kamala Harris to the White House, where she met with Zelenskyy and pledged “unwavering” support for Ukraine.

Trump’s meeting with Zelenskyy comes after he initially appeared poised to snub the Ukrainian leader’s request. Zelenskyy, who is in New York for the annual United Nations General Assembly, had hoped to present his “victory plan” on the conflict end to both Biden, Harris, and Trump.

However, Zelenskyy’s visit to a munitions factory in Pennsylvania, a key battleground state, with Democratic Governor Josh Shapiro, a Harris ally, angered Trump’s campaign.

Trump’s continued criticism of Zelenskyy has been scathing. He said on Monday that Zelenskyy wants Harris to win the election, and on Wednesday, he called Ukraine “dead” and “demolished.”