The U.S. Republican presidential nominee took to the social media platform Truth Social, which he owns, to “appreciate” Zelenskyy for reaching out.
Zelenskyy also posted on X that he had spoken with Trump but, although thanking the U.S. for its military assistance, did not make any reference about efforts to end the war that began when Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.
Saying that if he wins the U.S. election in November he will end the war before taking office in January, Trump wrote that as president, he “will bring peace to the world and end the war that has cost so many lives and devastated countless innocent families.
“Both sides will be able to come together and negotiate a deal that ends the violence and paves a path forward to prosperity.”
He also claimed that if he had been in office when Moscow sent troops into Ukraine, the war would not have taken place.
Zelenskyy through his X post congratulated Trump on becoming the Republican nominee and condemned the assassination attempt on him last week.
“I wished him strength and absolute safety in the future,” Zelenskyy wrote.
“I noted the vital bipartisan and bicameral American support for protecting our nation’s freedom and independence.”
Ukraine, he said, “will always be grateful to the United States for its help in strengthening our ability to resist Russian terror. Russian attacks on our cities and villages continue every day.”
According to media reports, Russian soldiers occupy roughly 20% of Ukrainian territory and the Kremlin’s troops have made “incremental gains” in the east of the country along the 1,000-km (600-mile) front since capturing the key city of Avdiivka in February.
The Ukrainian president said he would reject any negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin on ending the conflict as long as the Russian military remains in Ukraine.
