UKRAINIAN president Volodymyr Zelensky has insisted that he and Trump agree that “Putin can’t win” as the fractious pair met for tense talks that may decide the fate of the war.

The two haven’t had a meeting since 2019 as Zelensky continues to pressure US politicians for American aid to fight Russia’s invasion.

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Upon Zelensky’s arrival, the two men shook hands and Trump said it was an “honour” to meet with him.

Trump pointed out that the fact the pair were even together was a very good sign.

The presidential hopeful said: “I hope we have a good victory because if the other side wins you’re not going to have any victories to be honest.”

Trump also promised an end to the war with Russia if he were to win in the November election and said he’d even make a deal with President Joe Biden while he’s still in office.

The ex-president also bizarrely boasted his “very good relationship” with Russian leader Putin.

Zelensky spoke of how he and Trump “have a common view” that the Ukraine war “has to be stopped and Putin can’t win”.

The Ukrainian also invited Trump to visit his country during the hour-long session, with Trump pledging to take him up on the offer.

Russia is continuing to make gains in Ukraine’s eastern Donbas, sending relentless drone and missile attacks to cities.

Zelensky said he hoped the support of the US would be strong – no matter who wins the election.

He added: “And that’s why I decided to meet with most candidates, with all of them.”

The meeting came at a critical time in the Russia-Ukraine war as Election Day nears in the US – with running candidates Trump and Kamala Harris having taken vastly different approaches to the war.

For months Trump has criticised US support for Ukraine and ridiculed Zelensky as a salesman for persuading Washington to provide weapons and funding to his military.

But on Friday, Trump brought up what he calls the 2019 “impeachment hoax” which Democrats in Congress pursued after he asked Zelensky to look into Biden’s family – and his son.

At the time of the so-called “favour”, the Republican was withholding $400 million in military aid to Ukraine.

Trump said before Friday’s meeting: “He could have grandstanded and played cute, and he didn’t do that.

“He said, ‘President Trump did absolutely nothing wrong.’ He said it loud and clear.”

Zelensky told the press in 2019 – when Congress launched the impeachment enquiry – that there was no blackmail from Trump.

Trump has frequently said with confidence that Russia “would have never attacked Ukraine” if he were president.

He has also not been shy in praising mad Russian leader Vladimir Putin, having previously called him a “genius” and “savvy”.

Reports previously said the meeting wouldn’t go ahead after Trump showed offence to Zelensky’s comments that the running Republican “doesn’t really know how to stop the war”.

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This week Trump revealed a personal plea Zelensky sent him asking for a meeting – posting a screenshot to his Truth Social account.

In Zelensky’s message, the leader says: “Days ago, we requested a meeting with you, and I really want to hear your thoughts directly, and first hand.

“You know I always speak with great respect about everything connected to you, and that’s how it should be.

“I believe it’s important for us to have personal contact and to understand each other 100 per cent.

“I would really like for our meeting to take place, as part of our efforts to help us end this war in a just way.”

Trump posting the private conversation aligns with the heightened tensions between him and the Ukrainian leader.

The rare meeting comes two months after the pair had a phone call and Zelensky emphasised in a statement the importance of US support for Ukraine.

He said: “Ukraine will always be grateful to the United States for its help in strengthening our ability to resist Russian terror.

“Russian attacks on our cities and villages continue every day. We agreed with President Trump to discuss at a personal meeting what steps can make peace fair and truly lasting.”

Trump said afterwards confidently that he would “end the war” and that both sides would “negotiate a deal that ends the violence.”

Zelensky is in the US this week participating in the UN General Assembly in New York.

The Ukrainian leader presented a “victory” plan to Biden and Harris at the White House on Thursday, with Biden announcing a new military aid package worth nearly a whopping $8 billion for Kyiv.

But Zelensky was unsuccessful in earlier talks where he tried to secure permission to use Western missiles to strike deep into Russia.

Putin warned that attacks on Russia by western-backed missiles could trigger a devastating nuclear response.

The White House fear the threat of supplying the missiles, with an intelligence assessment describing various responses Russia would take.

These could include acts of arson and sabotage or deadly attacks on Western military bases, The New York Times reports.

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