Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky touted his latest U.S. trip as a success, emphasizing the bipartisan nature of the meetings, in an interview Sunday.
“I think that we saved bipartisan support of Ukraine,” Zelensky said in an interview on Fox News Live, when asked what his biggest accomplishment is, as he wraps up his trip.
Zelensky did not say whether he got any reassurances that he’s closer to getting authorization to use long-range weapons to strike deeper into Russia, when asked about his meetings with President Biden, Vice President Harris and former President Trump.
He stressed, however, the importance of Ukraine getting the authorization from the U.S. and noted the influence the U.S. has over other countries’ policies on the matter.
“We need it very much,” Zelensky said about the authorization. “We had consultations with France team. We had consultations – before United States – had consultation with the U.K. team. And we had consultation with United States, the biggest supporter in it, decision maker.”
“Because all these European countries, our partners, they’re very good, but they really understand who the decision maker in it,” Zelensky said, referring to the U.S. “In this case, they look exactly to Washington.”
Zelensky was in the U.S. this past week for the United Nations General Assembly. He met with Biden and Harris Thursday at the White House, with the administration the same day announcing about $8 billion in military assistance for Kyiv.
Zelensky also met on Friday with Trump, who has frequently voiced skepticism of U.S. aid to Ukraine.
Ahead of their meeting at Trump Tower in New York City, Trump and Zelensky addressed press briefly, and Trump lauded his relationships with Zelensky, as well as with Russian President Vladimir Putin, and suggested he could broker an end to the war “very quickly.”
“We’re going to work very much with both parties to try and get this settled,” Trump told reporters alongside Zelensky.
“We have a very good relationship, and I also have a very good relationship — as you know — with President Putin. And I think if we win, I think we’re going to get it resolved very quickly,” Trump added.
“I hope we have more good relations,” Zelensky cut in.
“Oh, I see,” Trump responded. “But it takes two to tango, you know. And we’re going to have a good meeting today. And I think the fact that we’re even together today is a very good sign.”
