Donald Trump to Meet Zelenskiy After Criticizing Ukrainian Leader, Reports Reuters

By Gram Slattery

(Reuters) – Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump is set to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Friday, following his past criticisms of Zelenskiy during his campaign and doubts regarding Ukraine’s ability to prevail in its conflict with Russia.

Trump confirmed that the meeting will take place at 9:45 a.m. at Trump Tower in Manhattan. Although the two leaders spoke on the phone in July, this marks their first in-person encounter since Trump’s tenure from 2017 to 2021.

Zelenskiy is currently in the United States for the U.N. General Assembly, where he has already met with President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, who is the Democratic candidate for the upcoming election.

While in Washington, Biden announced a new military aid package exceeding $8 billion for Ukraine. Harris also reiterated her support for the country and subtly criticized Trump, suggesting he has not adequately supported Ukraine.

Before leaving Kyiv, Zelenskiy indicated his plans to present his "victory plan" for overcoming Russia to Biden, Harris, and Trump. However, he may also aim to improve relations with Trump, who has previously been vocal in his criticisms of Zelenskiy.

Recently, Zelenskiy visited a munitions factory in Pennsylvania alongside the state’s Democratic governor, Josh Shapiro, a key ally of Harris. This visit reportedly angered Trump’s campaign and some congressional Republicans, who viewed it as a political maneuver in a crucial battleground state for the upcoming election.

In recent days, Trump has escalated his criticisms of Zelenskiy, suggesting that the Ukrainian leader favors Harris in the election and calling Ukraine "dead" and "demolished." Generally, Trump has refrained from expressing a desire for Ukraine to win its conflict and has labeled U.S. aid to the country as a misallocation of resources.

Until recently, those close to Trump indicated that a meeting seemed highly unlikely; however, it appears that Trump changed his mind while Zelenskiy was in the country.

Historically, meetings between presidential candidates and foreign leaders have occurred during previous election cycles. For instance, in 2016, both Trump and Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton met with various world leaders during that year’s U.N. General Assembly.

Though such meetings are common, they are delicate in nature due to legal restrictions on what candidates can discuss with foreign officials. The Logan Act of 1799 allows private citizens to engage with foreign representatives but also places limitations on their ability to negotiate U.S. conflicts.