Trump vows to ‘bring peace’ after ‘very good’ call with Zelensky

by Lauren Irwin - 07/19/24 9:55 PM ET

Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump gestures as he arrives at the Republican National Convention Wednesday, July 17, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya) / Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks during a press conference during the NATO summit in Washington, Thursday, July 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

Former President Trump vowed to “bring peace” after he spoke on the phone with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday.

“President Zelenskyy of Ukraine and I had a very good phone call earlier today. He congratulated me on a very successful Republican National Convention and becoming the Republican nominee for President of the United States,” Trump posted to his Truth Social site.

Trump said Zelensky condemned the “heinous” assassination attempt against the former president last Saturday and remarked about the American people coming together in unity.

“I appreciate President Zelenskyy for reaching out because I, as your next President of the United States, will bring peace to the world and end the war that has cost so many lives and devastated countless innocent families,” Trump wrote. “Both sides will be able to come together and negotiate a deal that ends the violence and paves a path forward to prosperity.”

Trump officially became the Republican nominee for the 2024 presidential election on Thursday, just days after a gunman opened fire at his rally in Butler, Pa.

Zelensky shared similar remarks to Trump’s in a post on social media platform X, condemning the “shocking assassination attempt” and wishing Trump “strength and absolute safety in the future.”

“I noted the vital bipartisan and bicameral American support for protecting our nation’s freedom and independence,” Zelensky said. “Ukraine will always be grateful to the United States for its help in strengthening our ability to resist Russian terror.”

Zelensky said he agreed with Trump to discuss “at a personal meeting what steps can make peace fair and truly lasting.”

The call marks a turning point for Trump and Zelensky. Russia invaded Ukraine in Feb. 2022, after Trump was already out of office.

In the past, the former president has repeatedly said if he is reelected, he would solve the Russia-Ukraine war in 24 hours.

Zelensky previously challenged Trump’s remarks and invited him numerous times to visit war-torn Ukraine.