Paul Manafort, former campaign manager for President Trump, claimed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky "survives by having a country at war" after a contentious Oval Office meeting between the two presidents last week.
"Zelensky is imperial," Manafort told NewsNation's "CUOMO" on Monday. "His office has expired. He's a martial law president, and that's fine."
"I mean, that's a legitimate position to be in, but his popularity in Ukraine is not very high," he added.
Manafort, who previously advised former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, said Zelensky has political motivations for prolonging the conflict.
"I'm not saying he likes war, but he survives by having a country at war, and so it's in his interest to find ways to stop the fighting, but not necessarily reach peace right away, until he can get strengthened politically," Manafort said.
His comments come after Friday's Oval Office photo op where Trump berated the Ukrainian leader in front of cameras, calling him "disrespectful" after Zelensky pressed Vice President Vance on diplomatic solutions with Russia.
According to Manafort, Trump had developed a peace plan that included European partners and a peacekeeping force. He said Zelensky was warned it "probably was not a good idea" to come to Washington but insisted on the visit.
Manafort alleged Democratic lawmakers met with Zelensky before the White House meeting and "got him all juiced up," saying they "weren't looking for peace, they were looking for political issue."
When asked about Trump pulling all aid to Ukraine, Manafort described it as "purely a pressure tactic" rather than a genuine threat.
"[Russian President Vladimir] Putin is ready to come to the table," Manafort said, adding that Trump "has a plan" for negotiations.
The Friday meeting was originally scheduled to discuss an agreement for the U.S. to access critical minerals in Ukraine, which Trump has argued would boost the Ukrainian economy and help recoup U.S. aid to Ukraine.
Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022, following its annexation of Crimea in 2014.
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