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Zelensky addresses Trump, applauds ‘historic landslide victory’

Umito November 7, 2024

WASHINGTON − Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Wednesday that he spoke with President-elect Donald Trump and congratulated him on his decisive electoral victory as Ukraine’s leader seeks to maintain U.S. support in his country’s war against Russia.

Zelenskyy, in an article on

“I congratulated his family and his team for their excellent work,” Zelenskyy said. “We agreed to maintain close dialogue and advance our cooperation. Strong and steadfast American leadership is vital for the world and for a just peace.”

The Biden administration has injected billions of dollars in military support into Ukraine two and a half years after Russian President Vladimir Putin invaded the neighboring country. But the future of US aid to Ukraine is uncertain after the election of Trump, who has a history of making flattering statements about Putin and who did not want to say during the presidential debate of September if he wanted Ukraine to win the war.

“I want the war to end,” said Trump, who has promised to end the war before his Jan. 20 inauguration but has provided no details on how.

During the campaign, Trump accused Zelensky of being favored in the U.S. election and criticized U.S. financial support for Ukraine’s war efforts. Vice President-elect JD Vance opposed U.S. funding for Ukraine in the Senate.

A famous phone call between Trump and Zelensky in 2019 – during which Trump threatened to cut off US aid to Ukraine if he did not investigate Joe Biden and his son, Hunter Biden – led to the first impeachment of Trump.

Trump and Zelennsky met in New York in Septembera day after Zelensky met with Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee, in Washington.

Contact Joey Garrison on X, formerly Twitter, @joeygarrison.