President Zelensky and President Trump are set to have a phone conversation on July 19, according to CNN. This marks their first conversation since 2021 and comes amid European concerns about Trump's potential policies toward the Ukraine war if he wins the 2024 presidential election.
On July 18, Trump accepted the Republican party's nomination for the 2024 election. Discussions about the timing of a call between the GOP nominee and the Ukrainian president have been ongoing, with one cautioning that schedules could change.
In a recent CNN debate with Biden, Trump labeled Putin's terms for an agreement “not acceptable”, which included Ukraine ceding four occupied territories to Russia. Trump and his allies have long criticized U.S. military aid to Kyiv. Trump has claimed he could resolve the Ukraine war in a day, but specifics on his peace approach remain unclear.
During a U.S. visit last week, Zelensky said, “everyone is waiting for November,” including Putin. He noted that while Biden and Trump are different, both support democracy, which Putin dislikes. Zelensky acknowledged that dealing with a Trump administration would be “hard work.” Trump's stance against military aid to Ukraine has raised concerns about U.S. support for Kyiv if he secures a second term.
Last week, Trump met Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban for the second time in six months. Orban, who had recently met with Putin, later told European leaders that Trump is “ready to act as a peace broker” between Russia and Ukraine.
Zelensky is currently visiting the U.K. and is expected to address the newly assembled British Cabinet on July 19. In his speech accepting the Republican nomination, Trump reiterated his claim that Russia would not have invaded Ukraine if he had been president.
