Conflict in Ukraine

Trump hears Zelensky: 'I will end the war'

According to Kiev's account of the conversation, Trump himself branded as 'fake news' the claim that his return to the White House is an advantage for Moscow

20 July 2024

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"I will end the war". That's the message delivered by Donald Trump to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in their first conversation since that infamous 2019 phone call that led to the former president's first impeachment.

"I am glad he sought me out because I will bring peace to the world and end the war that has already cost too many lives and devastated countless innocent families," Trump said.

"Both sides will be able to negotiate an agreement that will end violence and pave the way for prosperity," he added without ever directly mentioning Russia or Vladimir Putin, for whom the former president has never hidden his admiration.

But according to Kiev's account of the conversation, Trump himself branded as 'fake news' the claim that his return to the White House is an advantage for Moscow.

The phone call comes, however, amid growing fears from Ukraine that a second Trump presidency might take support away from Kiev and might push the former president to realise his idea of ending the war 'in one day' by allowing Russia to keep the occupied territories and leaving Kiev in a position to be attacked again.

Ucraina, 874° giorno di guerra
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With Trump "we agreed to discuss in person what steps can make peace fair and truly lasting," he assured Zelensky, pointing out to the former president "the vital importance of bipartisan and bicameral American support for the defence of Ukraine's freedom and independence. We will always be grateful to the United States for its assistance in strengthening our ability to resist Russian terror'. The conversation, according to observers, shows Kiev's lack of confidence in a Joe Biden victory in the November elections.

Diplomats in Kiev, according to rumours, have long been working on strategies to persuade Trump to continue supporting Ukraine, in the knowledge that he is unpredictable in foreign policy.

This is why Kiev is engaged in a 'charm offensive', in the words of theKyiv Independent, leveraging some of its biggest supporters, such as Boris Johnson.

From the Republican convention in Milwaukee, the former British prime minister posted a photo of himself with Trump, reporting that he had met him and talked about Ukraine.

"I have no doubt that he will be decisive in supporting the country and defending democracy," Johnson reported. It is unclear whether Zelensky asked Johnson to speak to Trump but the intervention and the former prime minister's words are one of many efforts by Ukraine's supporters to soften Trump's positions on Kiev.

However, Zelensky can also count on the support of some in the former president's entourage, especially among US senators. Trump loyalist Lindsey Graham, his former secretary of state Mike Pompeo but also Marco Rubio are all strong supporters of American aid to Kiev.

The word Ukraine is not included in the Republican Party platform approved at the convention, where it is generally limited to the need to restore 'peace in Europe'.

A vague definition that goes hand in hand with the scepticism towards Kiev of J.D. Vance , Trump's deputy, and the former president's dislike of NATO and of that Europe he asks to pay more to support Kiev.

On Trump's plan for peace there are no certainties. According to rumours it would involve vetoing Ukraine's entry into Nato in exchange for peace from Russia.

Other rumours refer to the proposal submitted by two advisers to the former president that the flow of US arms to Ukraine will only go ahead if Kiev starts talks with Moscow.

At the same time, the US would warn the Kremlin that any refusal to deal would result in more aid to the Ukrainians.

Trump publicly has not spoken out, merely reiterating that the war would never start with him and that, once re-elected, he will end it even before he takes office.