Chethma De Mel, Jadetimes Staff
C. J. De Mel is a Jadetimes news reporter covering Entertainment News
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is optimistic that the ongoing war with Russia will end sooner under Donald Trump as the next U.S. president. Speaking in an interview with Ukrainian media outlet Suspilne, Zelensky said that policy and promises from Trump to make an end to the conflict a priority could expedite peace.
Following a call with Trump after his victory in the election, Zelensky described the conversation as "constructive" and would not reveal the details. He said only that Trump had not proposed anything that ran counter to Ukraine's position.
The president has spoken multiple times of his desire to end the war, raising the alarm about the draining of U.S. assets from the stockpiles of military assistance to Ukraine. "It is evident that the war will end more quickly with the policy of the team that will be leading the White House now," said Zelensky, who added that it was necessary for Ukraine to work toward a political settlement of the conflict before next year.
Battlefield Challenges and Diplomatic Efforts
He was the first to acknowledge the difficult situation on the battlefield, where gains were still being rolled back by Russian forces. Yet he emphasized that diplomatic paths toward peace must be pursued. Under U.S. law, Zelensky is supposed to meet Trump formally only after his inauguration in January.
A Complex Relationship
Zelensky and Trump have a history of tumultuous relations, as Trump was impeached in 2019 over the accusation of putting pressure on Zelensky to probe the Biden family. Trump has spoken positively about the relationship between them, though, and expressed his belief that he could settle the war without much time-wasting. After a meeting in New York this September, Trump maintained that his discussion with the Ukrainian president was enlightening.
But he has yet to disclose a clear plan for how he will end the war. Critics, including his Democratic foes, say his approach will play into the hands of Russian President Vladimir Putin at Ukraine's expense, and compromise European security.
A Global Perspective
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who also called Trump after his election victory, was more optimistic. Speaking to Süddeutsche Zeitung, Scholz labelled the conversation surprisingly detailed and constructive, which perhaps implied that Trump might have a more differentiated approach to the war than hitherto believed.
U.S. Support for Ukraine
The United States has been at the forefront of critical assistance to Ukraine, with Congress agreeing to a $61 billion war package in military aid this year. Between February 2022 and June 2024, the U.S. delivered or pledged $55.5 billion in military aid to Ukraine, according to Germany's Kiel Institute for the World Economy, the nation's largest arms supplier.
Having more and more challenging fronts in Ukraine, Zelensky hopes that the war will be expedited by means of diplomatic efforts and the policy of the new US administration.
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