Volodymyr Zelensky pleaded for unity from the West against Vladimir Putin’s war as Donald Trump claimed the Ukrainian president wanted Kamala Harris to win the US presidential election.
At a meeting of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Mr Zelensky held talks on the sidelines with the leaders of Germany, India and Japan as he tried to shore up support for Kyiv’s war efforts.
“We talked about how to make a just peace closer,” Ukraine’s president said after meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
“The main thing is to maintain unity.”
However, this message was disrupted by Trump’s claim that Mr Zelensky wanted the Democrats to win the US presidential election.
The Republican presidential candidate’s stance on the campaign trail contrasts with the line adopted by some of his allies, who have argued that Ukraine would welcome him back as only he, in their view, has the acumen to negotiate with Putin to end his war on Ukraine.
“I think Zelensky is the greatest salesman in history,” Trump said at a rally in western Pennsylvania.
“Every time he comes into the country, he walks away with 60 billion dollars.
“He wants them to win this election so badly, but I would do differently - I will work out peace.”
Mr Zelensky, who has pleaded with the West for more military support to counter Putin’s invasion, and Ms Harris’ campaign had no immediate reaction to Trump’s remarks.
The wealthy Republican gave no details of his peace plan, beyond reiterating he would call Putin and Mr Zelensky and urge them to work out an accord, should he win the November 5 election.
The Ukrainian president, in the US to attend the 79th session of the UN General Assembly, said on Monday decisive action by the United States now could hasten the end of Russia’s war against Ukraine next year.
Britain has led the West in arming Ukraine.
The UK first provided anti-tank weapons, and Challenger II tanks, and then long-range Storm Shadow missiles
Sir Keir Starmer held talks with Joe Biden in Washington earlier this month on whether to allow Kyiv to fire missiles supplied by the West deep into Russia to target air bases used by aircraft launching “glide” bombs from far behind the frontline at towns and cities in Ukraine with devastating impacts.
However, some senior figures in the Biden administration are believed to be against given Kyiv such consent, as it could escalate the conflict.
