Zelensky claims the war would "finish sooner" with Trump in the presidency.

 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed confidence that the war with Russia would “end sooner” once Donald Trump assumes the presidency. 

Following Trump’s victory in the U.S. presidential election, Zelensky mentioned having a “constructive exchange” with him during their phone call. 

While he didn't specify any demands Trump may have made regarding potential talks with Russia, Zelensky noted that he heard nothing from Trump that conflicted with Ukraine's stance.

Trump has repeatedly stated that his top priority is to conclude the war, which started with Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, highlighting the strain on U.S. resources due to military aid to Kyiv.

Earlier this year, the U.S. House of Representatives approved a military aid package of $61 billion (£49 billion). The U.S. has been the largest supplier of arms to Ukraine, delivering or committing to send weapons and equipment valued at $55.5 billion (£41.5 billion) between the onset of the war and June 2024, according to the Kiel Institute for the World Economy, a German research organization. 

However, support for arming Ukraine appears to have diminished somewhat domestically since the war began, particularly among Republican voters, whom Trump has effectively wooed. 

During the U.S. election campaign, the former president-turned-president-elect repeatedly claimed he could end the war "in a day," yet he has not revealed how he plans to accomplish this. 

“It is certain that the war will end sooner with the policies of the team that will now lead the White House. This is their approach, their promise to their citizens,” Zelensky stated in an interview with the Ukrainian media outlet Suspilne. He emphasized that Ukraine must "do everything so that this war ends next year, through diplomatic means," as Russian forces continue to make advances on the battlefield.

The front lines have largely stagnated since Ukraine's much-anticipated counteroffensive in 2023, which failed to achieve the sweeping territorial gains anticipated. Russian forces have established fortified positions in the east and southeast, with fighting predominantly occurring in the eastern Donbas region.

On Friday, Russian forces made small advances along the eastern front line, with significant clashes reported near the northeastern city of Kupyansk and in Vuhledar in the southeast, according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), a Washington, D.C.-based think tank. Moreover, Russian infantry continued a "limited" offensive into the northeastern Kharkiv region from across the border, as cited by Ukrainian military sources.

In an effort to counter Russian advances, Ukrainian forces launched a breakout offensive into Russia's Kursk region over the summer, marking the first occupation of Russian territory since World War II. Zelensky stated that the operation's goal was to divert Russian troops from the front lines in Ukraine, although its effectiveness remains uncertain. Russia has been able to call upon hundreds of thousands of conscripts to strengthen its forces, while Ukraine relies heavily on advanced Western-supplied weaponry.

Analysts suggest that the territory Ukraine holds in Kursk could be a bargaining chip in potential peace talks. Zelensky's "victory plan," revealed last month, indicated that the offensive would continue to avoid creating "buffer zones" within Ukraine.

The renewed focus on a diplomatic solution comes amid worries about growing fatigue regarding the war, both within Ukraine and internationally. However, the specifics of such a solution remain unclear, as Zelensky has consistently rejected any notion of conceding Ukrainian territory, including Crimea, which has been under Russian occupation since 2014.

Trump and Zelensky have had a tumultuous relationship; Trump was impeached in 2019 for allegedly pressuring Zelensky to investigate President Joe Biden’s family. Despite their past differences, Trump has claimed to have a good relationship with Zelensky. After their meeting in New York in September, Trump stated that he “learned a lot” and would resolve the war "very quickly."

Democrats have accused Trump of cozying up to Russian President Vladimir Putin, claiming his approach to the war could lead to a surrender for Ukraine that poses risks for all of Europe.

Earlier this week, Russia denied reports of a phone call between Putin and Trump following the latter's election victory, during which Trump allegedly warned against escalating the conflict. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, after speaking with Trump post-election, noted that the incoming U.S. leader had a "more nuanced" perspective on the war than commonly assumed. Scholz faced criticism from Zelensky for a phone call with Putin—the first in nearly two years—despite Scholz’s office asserting he reiterated calls to end the war; Zelensky argued it undermined Putin's isolation.