WASHINGTON − Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Wednesday he spoke with President-elect Donald Trump and congratulated him on his decisive election win as the Ukrainian leader seeks continued U.S. support for his country’s war against Russia.
Zelenskyy, in a post on X, said he had an “excellent call” with Trump and “congratulated him on his historic landslide victory,” adding that “his tremendous campaign made this result possible.”
“I praised his family and team for their great work,” Zelenskyy said. “We agreed to maintain close dialogue and advance our cooperation. Strong and unwavering U.S. leadership is vital for the world and for a just peace.”
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The Biden administration has pumped billions of dollars in military support into Ukraine two and a half years after Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of the neighboring country. But future U.S. aid for Ukraine is in doubt after the election of Trump, who has a history of flattering statements about Putin and would not say during a September presidential debate whether he wants Ukraine to win the war.
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“I want the war to stop,” said Trump, who has vowed he will end the war before his Jan. 20 inauguration but provided no details how.
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During the campaign, Trump accused Zelenskyy of playing favorites 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 between Trump and Zelenskyy in 2019 − in which Trump threatened to withhold U.S. aid to Ukraine if he didn’t investigate Joe Biden and his son, Hunter Biden − led to Trump’s first impeachment.
Trump and Zelennskyy met in New York in September, one day after Zelenskyy met with Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee, in Washington.
Reach Joey Garrison on X, formerly Twitter, @joeygarrison.
