Hostility between Trump, Zelensky simmering since 2019 impeachment. Trump had asked Zelenski to investigate former President Joe Biden, and his son Hunter for possible corruption. Trump withheld about $400 million in aid to Ukraine in the days before the call, although he released it later. Trump went through a bruising impeachment trial that produced an indictment against him, but he was ultimately acquitted in the Senate trial that followed. Trump lost the 2020 US presidential election that followed the impeachment trial. The mistrust between Trump and Zelensk further deepened. Trump called Zelensksy a \”dictator\” and called Putin a ‘dictator’ and said he trusts Putin, but added, \”You know, look, it’s, trust and verify, let’s call it that\” The US joined Russia at the UN General Assembly to vote against a resolution proposed by Ukraine condemning Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. The US leader backed Ukraine with aid and robust international political support. Trump began questioning Kyiv’s capacity to hold on despite the US backing, creating a rift in the political arena and Republicans following him or staying muted. It got worse when Trump reached out directly to Russia’s President Vladimir Putin to find a solution to the war.
