(CNN) – Former US President Donald Trump said Friday that if he wins the election, he is willing to work on a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine, emphasizing his good relationship with Vladimir Putin, even when he was alongside the president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky.
Trump and Zelensky met Friday in New York, giving the Ukrainian leader the opportunity to make a personal overture to the Republican presidential candidate, who is openly skeptical about continuing U.S. security aid to Ukraine. to Russia.
The tensions between the two men, who had been critical of each other before the meeting, were evident during the meeting with journalists.
“We have a very good relationship, and I also have a very good relationship, as you know, with President Putin. And I think if we win, we’re going to figure it out very quickly,” Trump told reporters before his meeting with Zelensky.
“I hope we have more good relations between us,” Zelensky interjected.
“I see,” Trump said. “It takes two to tango, you know, and we’re going to have a good meeting today. And I think the fact that we are together today is a very good sign.”
Friday’s meeting came at a crucial time for Zelensky ahead of the US elections in November. This week, he has tried to convince the Biden administration that his country can still win the war, as long as the United States and other countries significantly and rapidly increase military aid.
Trump has repeatedly complained about the funding the United States has provided to Ukraine and has said he will quickly end the war between the two sides, which began with Russia’s unprovoked invasion in February 2022. Zelensky said this week that Trump doesn’t know how to end Russia’s war against Ukraine.
“Hopefully, we’ll have a good victory, because if the other side wins, I don’t think you’re going to have victories with anything, to be honest with you,” Trump said of the race between him and US Vice President Kamala Harris. , the Democratic presidential candidate.
“So we’re going to sit down (and) just discuss it, and if we have a victory, I think long before January 20, before I take over the presidency – it’s January 20 – but long before that, I think We can work out something that is good for both parties. “It’s time,” Trump added. “By the way, the president (Zelensky) also knows this. He wants something to be done. “He doesn’t want to do this.”
Zelensky thanked Trump for agreeing to meet with him, recalling how five years had passed since their last meeting, and said he believes they share the view that Putin must be stopped.
“I think we have a common vision that the war in Ukraine must be stopped, and Putin cannot win, and Ukraine must prevail, and I want to discuss with you the details of that,” Zelensky said.
After the meeting ended, Trump and Zelensky appeared together on Fox News. Trump reiterated that he believes a fair deal is possible and can be reached quickly, even as Zelensky made clear that he believes Russian troops should be expelled from Ukraine entirely.
“I’ve learned a lot, but I think I haven’t changed from the point of view that we both want this to end and we both want a fair agreement to be reached. And it has to be fair, and I think that will happen at the right time. I think it’s going to happen,” Trump told Fox News after the meeting.
“It should stop and the president wants it to stop. I’m sure President Putin wants it to stop, and that’s a good combination. So we want a fair deal for everyone,” Trump said.
When asked what he considered “fair,” Trump said it was “too early to say.”
“I have my own ideas and I’m sure the president definitely has his. But it has to be fair,” Trump said.
Zelensky intervened, recalling how Putin has invaded Ukrainian territory.
“This war should not have started, and I think the problem is that Putin has killed so many people and, of course, we have to do everything possible to pressure him to stop this war. It is in our territory. That’s the most important thing. He is on our territory and how to stop the war to put pressure on him as we can. We have to do it,” Zelensky said.
Trump said Zelensky “said it best,” that “this is a war that should never have happened,” and said another meeting between them “could very well happen.”
Trump questioned how Ukraine could rebuild and restore its cities, saying “it’s not possible.”
“By the way, he has to come see all of us,” Zelensky said.
“I will do it,” Trump said. “It is a beautiful country.”
