Zelenskyy downplays comment that Trump doesn’t know how to end Russian invasion

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is downplaying past differences with former President Donald Trump after a meeting in New York City.

President Zelenskiy visited Trump Tower on Friday to meet with Republican presidential candidates and later sat down with Fox News' Griff Jenkins for what appeared to be a friendly conversation.

Asked why he met with Trump, Zelenskiy told Jenkins: “We understand that in any future negotiations, Ukraine has to be strong. That's the question.” “We spoke to Mr. Biden, Kamala Harris, Donald Trump and the United States Congress.”

Trump meets with Ukraine's Zelensky at Trump Tower, says Russia war should end with 'fair deal'

Mr. Jenkins pressed Mr. Zelensky about his comments published in a New Yorker article earlier this week. In it, Zelensky reportedly said that President Trump “believes that even if he doesn't know how to stop the war.” think He knows how to do it” – and whether Trump said anything that would change Zelenskiy’s mind.

“No, I actually think we have a much better understanding of what's going on in Ukraine and how to stop him than anyone, including Donald Trump. “It's difficult to understand,” Zelenskyy replied.

Ukraine's president said his country is now a completely different country than the one that was first invaded in 2022.

Zelesnkyi: 'Trump doesn't know about Putin', Russian dictator 'will never stop'

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visits the Scranton Army Ammunition Plant in Scranton, Pennsylvania, USA (Handout via Ukraine Presidential Press Office/Reuters)

“Ukraine, during the Ukraine war before the full-scale invasion, there were two different countries. So unless you have this experience, you can't really understand how to stop a war.” [Russian President Vladimir Putin]” Zelenskiy continued. “That's what I wanted to convey to the president . . . and the tragic price of Putin's bloody invasion.”

At one point during the meeting, Trump told reporters that he had a “good relationship” with Zelensky and Putin. President Zelenskiy then interjected and said that he wanted the United States to have better relations with Ukraine than with Russia.

Jenkins asked the Ukrainian president if he was concerned about President Trump's comments about maintaining good relations with President Putin.

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President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskiy participated in a joint press conference to commemorate the 33rd anniversary of Ukraine's independence in Kiev, Ukraine. (Yan Dobronosov/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images)

President Zelenskiy said he was not necessarily concerned, saying, “President Trump has relationships and relationships with many countries and many United Nations leaders during his presidency and during his term.'' ” has been maintained.

In an exclusive interview, President Zelensky lamented the lack of reaction that Putin received from countries around the world when Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine in 2014 by occupying Crimea.

“No one kicked him, which means he understood that he can occupy it and move forward further. He can capture new territory in Ukraine,” Zelenskiy said. “He started preparing to do this – his plan – and he carried it out.”