Zelenskiy meets Trump, presents Ukraine's 'victory plan'

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy met with US presidential candidate Donald Trump in New York, discussing the ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia.

The meeting, held at Trump Tower, was their first in-person encounter since 2019. Zelenskiy presented his "victory plan," which reportedly includes requests for more weapons and the removal of restrictions on long-range missiles.

Trump, though maintaining a positive tone towards Zelenskiy, also emphasized his strong relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin, suggesting that if he wins the US election, he would quickly work toward resolving the conflict.

Despite previous tension between the two leaders, Trump praised Zelenskiy’s resilience, and the Ukrainian president characterized the meeting as "very productive."

Trump stated that both Zelenskiy and Putin wanted the war to end and suggested he could broker a deal.

However, when asked if Ukraine should give up some territory to Russia,

Trump gave a noncommittal response, indicating openness to negotiation.

The meeting came after Zelenskiy had already engaged with current US leaders, including President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. While Democrats have been strong supporters of Ukraine’s fight, Trump’s stance and Republican support for further aid have been less certain.

Some congressional Republicans were displeased with Zelenskiy’s earlier visit to Pennsylvania, viewing it as politically motivated.

Zelenskiy's meeting witb Trump comes after US President Joe Biden announced more than $8 billion in military assistance for Ukraine on September 26 to help Kyiv “win this war” against Russian invaders.

The aid includes the first shipment of a precision-guided glide bomb called the Joint Standoff Weapon, with a range of up to 81 miles (130 km).

The medium-range missile gives Ukraine a major upgrade to the weapons it is using to strike Russian forces, allowing the Ukrainians to do it at safer distances.

The bomb, capable of striking targets with high accuracy, is to be dropped from fighter jets. Biden will not announce that Washington would let Ukraine use US missiles to hit targets deeper in Russia, a US official said.

Supporting Ukraine, which Russia invaded in February 2022, has been a US top priority, Biden said in a statement.

Furthermore, Zelenskiy's announced his "Victory Plan," designed to secure peace for Ukraine while maintaining the nation's strength and preventing any "frozen conflicts," is now fully completed after extensive consultation.

The war in Ukraine remains a divisive issue in US politics, with differing views on military support.

Trump has expressed skepticism about continuing aid, while Zelenskiy continues to advocate for international backing to ensure Ukraine’s victory.