In a revelation that has stirred political circles, former US President Donald Trump disclosed that he urged Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky to seek peace with Russian President Vladimir Putin during their controversial 2019 meeting.
The admission comes as Ukraine continues to resist Russia's full-scale invasion, now in its third year. Trump made the comments during a recent interview, recalling his advice to Zelensky at their infamous July 2019 phone call that later triggered his first impeachment.
'Make a Deal' Suggestion
'I said you've got to make a deal. You've got to get together,' Trump stated, describing his conversation with the Ukrainian president. 'You've got to make peace. You can't keep going on like this.'
The former president's remarks have drawn criticism from foreign policy experts who argue such advice undermined Ukraine's sovereignty while rewarding Russian aggression. At the time of the 2019 call, Russia had already annexed Crimea and was supporting separatists in eastern Ukraine.
Impeachment Echoes
The phone conversation became central to Trump's first impeachment when he was accused of withholding military aid to pressure Zelensky into announcing investigations into Joe Biden's family. Trump was ultimately acquitted by the Senate.
Current Ukrainian officials have not publicly responded to Trump's latest comments. However, President Zelensky has repeatedly stated that negotiations with Putin are impossible without Russian troops withdrawing from Ukrainian territory.
As Trump campaigns for a potential return to the White House in 2024, his stance on Ukraine remains under scrutiny, with some Republicans advocating for reduced US support for Kyiv.
