Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky posed a provocative question to the world on Saturday: Can a Mideast truce provide the key to ending Europe’s largest war? In a phone call with US President Donald Trump, Zelensky made precisely that case, linking the success of a new Gaza peace deal directly to the possibility of ending Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The call, described by Zelensky as “positive and productive,” began with congratulations for Trump’s role in brokering the agreement between Israel and Hamas. Zelensky lauded it as an “outstanding achievement” before pivoting to his central thesis. “If a war can be stopped in one region, then surely other wars can be stopped as well—including the Russian war,” he stated, creating a powerful narrative of transferable peace.
This diplomatic argument was paired with a frank discussion of Ukraine’s dire security situation. Zelensky updated Trump on Russia’s targeted campaign against the nation’s energy grid, a strategy intended to inflict maximum hardship. This briefing underscored the urgency behind Ukraine’s requests for more advanced and comprehensive military support.
Specifically, the leaders talked about enhancing Ukraine’s air defense capabilities. Zelensky’s post-call comments hinted at significant progress, mentioning “good options and solid ideas” and “concrete agreements” in the works. This suggests that the US may be poised to play an even more critical role in helping Ukraine protect its sovereign territory from the air.
The conversation captured the essence of Zelensky’s approach: a blend of diplomatic optimism and military realism. While holding out hope that peace is possible, he insisted that negotiations can only proceed from a position of strength. His appeal to Trump was thus a call to apply his proven deal-making skills to Ukraine, backed by the full weight of American support to create the conditions for a just resolution.
Can a Mideast Truce End Europe’s War? Zelensky Makes the Case to Trump
