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From “salesman” to “piece of steel”: Trump now praises Zelenskyy, says he likes him

The former US President, who previously called Zelenskyy the “greatest salesman,” now says he likes the Ukrainian leader, and praises Zelenskyy’s handling of Trump’s impeachment.

byYuri Zoria

01/10/2024

2 minute read

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, meets with former US President Donald Trump in New York on 27 September 2024. Photo: president.gov.ua

From “salesman” to “piece of steel”: Trump now praises Zelenskyy, says he likes him

In an interview with The Washington Post published on 30 September, former US President Donald Trump expressed admiration for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, stating, “I had a good relationship with Zelenskyy. I like him.”

Last week, Trump had criticized Zelenskyy during a campaign event, calling him “the greatest salesman on Earth” for securing US support. However, after they met by the end of the week, Trump stated, “I learned a lot” and “we both want to see this [war] end, and we both want to see a fair deal made, and it’s going to be fair.” At a news conference before their meeting, Trump said Zelenskyy was “a piece of steel” during Trump’s first impeachment, as per WP.

Now, speaking to WP, the former US president praised Zelenskyy’s handling of Trump’s first impeachment proceedings during his tenure as president, stating,

“During the impeachment hoax … he could have said he didn’t know the [conversation] was taped. … But instead of grandstanding and saying, ‘Yes, I felt threatened,’ he said, ‘He did absolutely nothing wrong.'”

President Donald Trump’s first impeachment occurred on 18 December 2019, when the House adopted articles for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. The inquiry found Trump solicited foreign interference in the 2020 election by withholding military aid and pressuring Ukraine’s president to investigate Joe Biden. The Senate acquitted Trump on 5 February 2020.

In the WP interview, Trump once again claimed that President Biden’s early approach to energy contributed to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, stating,

“It drove [the price of oil] up to a hundred dollars a barrel. And Putin said, ‘Man, at a hundred dollars a barrel, I’m going to be the only one to make money on the war.'”

When asked about his July interview where he claimed that if Putin rejected his peace deal, he would provide Ukraine with more aid than ever before, Trump responded:

“I did say that, so I can say it to you. But I did say that and nobody picked it up. They don’t because it makes so much sense.”

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