In a fiery campaign rally speech on Monday, Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump sharply criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy for accepting substantial financial and military aid from the United States while allegedly failing to take steps to negotiate an end to the conflict with Russia. Trump, known for his controversial statements on foreign policy, accused Zelenskiy of inaction in making concessions that, he argued, could have prevented the devastation that Ukraine is currently facing.
“Zelenskiy has taken billions from the U.S. while refusing to make a deal to end the war. Any deal — even the worst deal — would’ve been better than what we have now,” Trump said to a crowd in North Carolina. The former president’s remarks came on the same day that Zelenskiy attended the UN General Assembly in New York and just before his planned visit to Washington to meet with U.S. President Joe Biden.
Trump Criticizes U.S. Aid to Ukraine
Trump’s statements come amid continued scrutiny of U.S. military and financial support for Ukraine, a critical issue in the ongoing 2024 presidential campaign. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, the U.S. has been one of Ukraine’s most prominent backers, providing billions of dollars in aid to support Ukraine’s defense and humanitarian efforts.
The U.S. Congress has authorized multiple aid packages, including advanced weaponry such as High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) and Javelin anti-tank missiles, aimed at bolstering Ukraine’s ability to resist Russian advances. Trump, however, has repeatedly expressed skepticism about the value of these aid packages, framing them as wasteful and misaligned with America’s broader interests.
“We’re sending billions and billions of dollars, and for what? Ukraine is in ruins, its people are suffering, and there’s no end in sight,” Trump told his supporters, painting a grim picture of the situation on the ground in Ukraine. “If they had made a bad deal, it would’ve been better. They could have given up a little, and everyone would still be alive today.”
“A Bad Deal is Better Than No Deal,” Says Trump
Trump’s remarks reflect his longstanding critique of U.S. foreign policy during the Biden administration, particularly in relation to Ukraine. He suggested that, had Ukraine made early concessions to Russian President Vladimir Putin, the war could have been avoided altogether. The former president did not specify what terms Ukraine should have accepted but implied that ceding some territories or rights to Russia in exchange for peace might have been a preferable option to the current destruction and loss of life.
“They would’ve given up a little bit, and every building would still be standing, every tower would be aging for another 2,000 years,” Trump said in his speech. His comments seemed to reference Ukraine’s refusal to accept Russian demands prior to the 2022 invasion, which included recognizing Russia’s annexation of Crimea and the independence of separatist-held territories in Luhansk and Donetsk.
While Trump’s suggestion of making early concessions to avoid war is consistent with his previous critiques of Ukraine’s approach, it is notably at odds with the prevailing narrative in the U.S. and among NATO allies. The international community has broadly supported Ukraine’s stance of defending its territorial integrity and sovereignty against Russian aggression, viewing the invasion as a violation of international law.
Trump’s Claim That Russia Wouldn’t Have Invaded Under His Watch
Trump has often claimed that Russia would not have invaded Ukraine if he had still been president. During his 2024 campaign, he has frequently repeated the assertion that his rapport with Putin would have deterred any aggression from Moscow. However, critics argue that Trump’s reluctance to directly condemn Russia during his presidency, coupled with his decisions like withholding military aid to Ukraine in 2019, may have emboldened Putin.
Despite Trump’s bold claims, he has yet to provide a concrete explanation of how he would have prevented the invasion or how he plans to bring an end to the war if elected in 2024. When asked during a recent debate with Democratic nominee and current Vice President Kamala Harris whether he wants Ukraine to win the war, Trump notably sidestepped the question, refusing to offer a clear answer.
Zelenskiy’s Response and U.S. Support for Ukraine
Trump’s remarks appear to be a direct response to comments made by President Zelenskiy in an interview with The New Yorker, in which Zelenskiy questioned Trump’s claims that he could easily end the war. “He doesn’t really know how to stop the war, even if he might think he knows how,” Zelenskiy said in the interview.
At the North Carolina rally, Trump took aim at Zelenskiy’s statement, accusing the Ukrainian president of making “nasty aspersions” toward him. “He’s over here, in the United States, making little nasty aspersions toward your favorite president — me,” Trump quipped, drawing laughter from the audience.
Zelenskiy’s visit to the U.S. is part of a broader diplomatic effort to secure continued support for Ukraine amid concerns about the war’s long-term trajectory. The Ukrainian leader is expected to meet with President Biden and top U.S. officials, where he will present what he describes as a “victory plan” for Ukraine. The plan is rumored to include a request for long-range weapons to strike Russian targets deep within their territory, a move that could escalate the conflict further.
The meeting between Trump and Zelenskiy, which some speculated might take place in New York during the UN General Assembly, appears unlikely to happen. U.S. media have reported that plans for a face-to-face discussion between the two leaders have been scrapped, although no official reason has been provided.
Biden and International Allies Stand Firm on Support
Meanwhile, President Biden has continued to rally international support for Ukraine. On September 25, during a meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, Biden announced a new joint declaration in support of Ukraine’s recovery and reconstruction. The declaration, endorsed by more than 30 countries, including the Group of Seven (G7) industrialized nations and the European Union, reaffirmed their commitment to Ukraine’s long-term stability.
In his speech, Biden emphasized that the international community would hold Russia accountable for the destruction caused by the war. A key point in the joint declaration calls for Russia to pay for damages inflicted on Ukraine, in line with international law.
“We reaffirm that, consistent with all applicable laws and our respective legal systems, Russia’s sovereign assets in our jurisdictions will remain immobilized until Russia ends its aggression and pays for the damage it has caused to Ukraine,” the White House stated in its release of the declaration.
Biden also reassured Zelenskiy that Ukraine would not be left alone in its fight against Russia, echoing his administration’s long-standing position of standing firmly with Kyiv. “We’re committed to providing Ukraine with the resources that it needs to build back stronger than before…. You’re not alone in this fight,” Biden said, signaling continued U.S. support.
A New Aid Package for Ukraine
In addition to the joint declaration, the Biden administration announced a fresh $375 million military aid package for Ukraine. The package includes high-tech weaponry such as HIMARS, Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles, and TOW anti-tank missiles, which have proven essential to Ukraine’s defense operations.
Zelenskiy, for his part, has likened the efforts to rebuild Ukraine to the U.S. Marshall Plan, which helped reconstruct Europe after World War II. “Today we are laying the foundation for a similar architecture of recovery,” Zelenskiy said during his remarks at the UN.
Despite the strong display of international unity, questions remain about the long-term prospects for peace in Ukraine. While Trump’s criticisms highlight a growing divide in U.S. political discourse about how to handle the conflict, Biden and his international allies continue to emphasize the need for robust support for Ukraine as the war grinds on into its second year.
As the 2024 election looms, U.S. policy toward Ukraine is shaping up to be a central issue, with Trump and Biden offering sharply contrasting visions for the future of American involvement in the conflict.
