Former President Donald Trump has declined the offer by Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to visit his embattled country, saying that this would create a “conflict of interest” ahead of the 2024 presidential election.
“I have great respect for President Zelenskyy, but think it would be inappropriate to go to Ukraine at this time,” the Republican presidential frontrunner wrote in a statement to Newsmax. “The Biden administration is currently dealing with him, and I would not want to create a conflict of interest.”
In an interview aired on Sunday, Mr. Zelenskyy told NBC “Meet the Press” host Kristen Welker that President Trump would be “very welcome” to visit Ukraine, where the war with Russia is dragging into a second year and has forced millions of people to leave their homes.
“Former President Trump said that about 24 hours, that he can manage it and finish the war,” Mr. Zelenskyy said during the interview. “For me, what can I say? So he’s very welcome as well.”
“President [Joe] Biden was here, and I think he understood some details which you can understand only being here,” he continued. “So I invite President Trump. If he can come here, I will need 24 minutes.”
In March, the former president said he could settle the war in Ukraine in one day if he secures a second term in the White House. As the U.S. president, he said, he would able to bring Mr. Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin to the negotiation table and cut a “fair deal for everyone.”
The Ukrainian president argued that this three-party peace talk President Trump envisions might not go as easily as he hopes, especially if it involves Ukraine giving up territory to Russia or surrendering part of its independence.
“He can’t bring peace because of Putin,” Mr. Zelenskyy said. “If he’s not trying and if he’s not ready to give our territory to this terrible man, to Putin, if you are not ready to give it, if you are not ready to give our independence, he can’t manage it. Yes, so he’s very welcome.”
When asked if he thinks President Trump would support Ukraine in its war efforts if he were to retake the White House, Mr. Zelenskyy said he expects the U.S. president to base his decision on the will of the American public.
More Funding for Ukraine
The interview came after the Biden administration announced another “security assistance” package totaling $425 million to bolster Ukraine’s exhausted arsenal.Specifically, according to the U.S. Department of Defense, the package includes $300 million in laser-guided munitions to kill Russian drones. The funding will come from the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, which allows the Ukrainian government to purchase military equipment directly from U.S. manufacturers.
Furthermore, Ukraine will receive $125 million worth of military supplies that will be drawn from existing U.S. stockpiles through the presidential drawdown authority. The weapons will include additional munitions for NASAMS defense systems, ammunition for HIMARS mobile rocket systems, 105 and 155 millimeter artillery rounds, TOW anti-tank missiles, Claymore anti-personnel mines, small arms, and trucks.
“The Administration continues to call on Congress to meet its commitment to the people of Ukraine by passing additional funding to ensure Ukraine has what it needs to defend itself against Russia’s brutal war of choice,” the Pentagon said.
In addition to the Biden administration supplying additional military aid to Ukraine, the House of Representatives has passed a bill providing $14.3 billion to Israel in aid for its military campaign in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip. Newly elected House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said the bill will be paid with money freed up by budget cuts.
President Biden has threatened to veto the stand-alone measure that left out funding for Ukraine and other items related to national security. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) also said he would not bring it up for a vote.
“The Senate will not take up the House GOP’s deeply flawed proposal,” Mr. Schumer wrote in a post on X. “Instead we will work on our own bipartisan emergency aid package that includes funding for aid to Israel, Ukraine, humanitarian aid including for Gaza, and competition with the Chinese government.”
