Zelenskyy visits Trump as election holds high stakes for Ukraine's future

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is heading back to his home country after a whirlwind week of meetings with leaders in the U.S. His final sit-down was with Donald Trump, whose current presidential bid holds high stakes for U.S. support for Ukraine. Stephanie Sy reports.

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Geoff Bennett: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is heading back to his home country after a busy week of meetings with leaders here in the U.S.

His final sit-down was with former President Donald Trump, whose current bid for president holds high stakes for U.S. support for Ukraine.

Stephanie Sy has more.

Stephanie Sy: Former President Trump and Ukraine’s leader, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, met at Trump Tower in New York.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukrainian President: We have common view that the war in Ukraine has been the strongest and Putin can’t win. And Ukrainians have to prevail. And I want to discuss with you the details of our plan and our victory.

Stephanie Sy: Ahead of their closed-door meeting, Trump said he had a great relationship with Zelenskyy, crediting him for helping him during the first of his impeachment trials. That scandal exploded five years ago, when Zelenskyy, fresh-faced before years of war, sat with then-President Trump at the United Nations.

Donald Trump, Former President of the United States (R) and Current U.S. Presidential Candidate: We’re with the president of Ukraine. And he’s made me more famous than I have been.

(Laughter)

Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA): The ayes have it.

Stephanie Sy: Trump was impeached in late 2019 after he demanded Ukraine provide information on then-candidate Joe Biden in return for releasing military aid to Ukraine. The Republican-controlled Senate acquitted Trump.

Donald Trump: The fact that we’re even together today is a very good sign.

Stephanie Sy: But in the same breath today, Trump also lauded Russia’s president, leading Zelenskyy to interject. Trump’s response was telling.

Donald Trump: We have a very good relationship. And I also have a very good relationship, as you know, with President Putin. And I think — if we win, I think we are going to get it resolved very quickly. I really think we’re going to get it resolved.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy: I thought we have more good relations.

(Crosstalk)

Donald Trump: Oh, I see. Yes. But it takes two to tango, you know?

Stephanie Sy: With Russian assaults continuing, all week, Zelenskyy found himself caught in the crossfire of the battle for the U.S. presidency, with Trump refusing to say whether Ukraine should win the war.

And earlier this week, Trump said this about Ukraine’s president:

Donald Trump: I think Zelenskyy is the greatest salesman in history. Every time he comes into the country, he walks away with $60 billion.

Stephanie Sy: Trump also suggested this week that Ukraine should have made concessions to Russia to avert the war.

Donald Trump: Ukraine is gone. It’s not Ukraine anymore. Any deal, even the worst deal, would have been better than what we have right now.

Stephanie Sy: His running mate, Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, has also focused on the war’s price tag.

Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH), Vice Presidential Candidate: I don’t appreciate Zelenskyy coming to this country and telling the American taxpayers what they ought to do. He ought to say thank you to the American taxpayers.

(Cheering)

Stephanie Sy: Vance and other Republicans have ramped up their critique of Zelenskyy since an interview with “The New Yorker” published Sunday. In it, Zelenskyy called Vance’s stance on Ukraine too radical, and said: “Trump doesn’t really know how to stop the war, even if he might think he knows how.”

Republicans charge that Zelenskyy has waded too far into U.S. politics. Early this week, Zelenskyy visited an ammunitions factory in Pennsylvania with Democrats. Now the GOP speaker of the House is calling for Ukraine’s ambassador to resign, and a House committee is investigating whether laws or ethics were breached.

Kamala Harris, Vice President of the United States (D) and U.S. Presidential Candidate: So, President Zelenskyy, it is good to see you again.

Stephanie Sy: In Washington yesterday, Zelenskyy stood alongside Vice President Kamala Harris, who lambasted Trump’s insistence on striking a quick deal.

Kamala Harris: These proposals are the same of those of Putin. And let us be clear. They are not proposals for peace. Instead, they are proposals for surrender.

Stephanie Sy: Surrender is far from Zelenskyy’s mind, as he tries to sell his plan for victory to the U.S. while walking a tightrope.

For the “PBS News Hour,” I’m Stephanie Sy.