U.S. President-elect Donald Trump is seen as strong and unpredictable, which could play a big role in dealing with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. However, Zelenskyy pointed out that ending the nearly three-year-long war won’t happen overnight, even though Trump had said it could during his campaign.
Zelenskyy believes that if Trump takes a strong stand, the fighting might stop faster. Trump, who will start his presidency on January 20, has not said much about his plans for Ukraine, leading many to wonder if the U.S. will keep being Ukraine’s main military supporter. Zelenskyy wants to make sure that the support from the U.S. continues, and he even met with Trump before the election in November.
As the war approaches four years, how it might end is becoming more urgent. Right now, Russia has taken control of about one-fifth of Ukraine, and last year, they made gains in the eastern part of the country despite suffering heavy losses. Ukraine is running low on resources and needs ongoing help from allies.
Trump seemed open to the idea of sending Western peacekeepers to Ukraine, as suggested by French President Emmanuel Macron, to help stop the fighting. However, Zelenskyy raised concerns about which countries would participate and if the U.S. would be involved.
Zelenskyy is determined for Ukraine to eventually join NATO, but NATO countries have said that this won’t happen until the war is over. He also stated that sending European troops to help keep peace in Ukraine should not prevent Ukraine’s NATO aspirations.
Zelenskyy mentioned that a recent Ukrainian attack into Russia’s Kursk region could be a strong point in future peace talks. Ukraine managed to capture some of Kursk last August, marking the first time since World War II that Ukraine has occupied Russian land. However, this did not significantly change the war’s outcome, and analysts say Ukraine has lost around 40% of the land it once captured. Still, Zelenskyy noted that this move impressed many countries in Asia, South America, and Africa, while also hurting Russia’s military reputation.
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