KYIV, Ukraine — U.S. President-elect Donald Trump is viewed as a “strong and unpredictable” leader, qualities that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy believes could greatly influence the United States’ policy regarding Russia’s ongoing conflict with Ukraine.
Zelenskyy, however, cautioned that the nearly three-year-long war cannot be resolved overnight, as Trump suggested during his campaign. “The active phase of the war might be able to conclude rather quickly, provided Trump adopts a firm stance,” Zelenskyy remarked in a recent television interview, discussing the situation on the battlefield. He expressed a hope that Trump’s unpredictability could be primarily used to counter Russia’s actions.
Despite Trump set to officially take office on January 20, he has not yet detailed his strategies concerning Ukraine, leaving many questions regarding the future of U.S. support for the country, which has been the most significant military ally of Ukraine. Zelenskyy is keen on ensuring that assistance from Washington continues; he even met with Trump prior to the presidential election in November in New York.
As the conflict nears its fourth anniversary, the debate surrounding the resolution timeline for Europe’s largest war since World War II gains prominence, especially with Trump’s incoming administration. Currently, Russia controls roughly 20% of Ukraine’s territory and has taken advantage of vulnerabilities in Ukraine’s defenses to gradually advance in the eastern regions, despite incurring considerable losses. The trend of the war appears unfavorable for Ukraine, which finds itself short-staffed at the front and in dire need of ongoing support from its Western allies.
Trump has been receptive to the idea proposed by French President Emmanuel Macron concerning the deployment of Western peacekeepers in Ukraine to monitor any ceasefire agreement. During a meeting with Trump and Macron in Paris last month, Zelenskyy emphasized the need for clarity on which countries would participate in this initiative and whether the U.S. would be involved.
Zelenskyy is committed to Ukraine’s ambition to join NATO. While the 32 NATO member nations affirm that Ukraine will become a member eventually, they insist that this will only occur after the conflict is resolved. “The introduction of European troops to maintain peace in Ukraine should not hinder Ukraine’s future membership in NATO,” he stated during his interview.
Zelenskyy also highlighted the significance of Ukrainian forces’ recent operations in Russia’s Kursk region, designating them as a “very strong trump card” in future peace discussions. Ukraine’s forces managed to take a part of Kursk last August, marking the first occupation of Russian territory since World War II. However, military analysts note that this maneuver did not alter the overall course of the war, with Ukraine reportedly losing about 40% of the territory it had initially captured.
Regardless, Zelenskyy noted that this advancement has resonated positively with nations in Asia, South America, and Africa, serving to undermine Russia’s military standing.
