President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine held a significant phone call with US President Donald Trump on Saturday, articulating his core belief that military strength is the essential catalyst for achieving “real diplomacy” with Russia. The conversation, framed around Zelensky’s congratulations for a US-brokered Gaza peace deal, served as a platform for the Ukrainian leader to reiterate his strategic vision for ending the war.
Zelensky’s public summary of the call highlighted his conviction that peace cannot be negotiated from a position of weakness. After praising Trump’s “outstanding achievement” in the Middle East, he pivoted to his own nation’s struggle, insisting that a “readiness on the Russian side to engage in real diplomacy” is not a given. According to Zelensky, this crucial condition “can be achieved through strength,” a direct appeal for continued and enhanced military support.
The discussion delved into the specifics of what that strength entails. Zelensky informed Trump of Russia’s damaging assaults on Kyiv’s energy system, a pressing concern that necessitates a robust response. The two leaders then explored “good options and solid ideas” for bolstering Ukraine’s air defense network, with Zelensky hinting that “concrete agreements” are in progress to make this a reality.
The context for this appeal was Zelensky’s broader argument about the interconnectedness of global conflicts. He posited that the success of the Gaza deal should serve as an inspiration and a call to action. “If a war can be stopped in one region, then surely other wars can be stopped as well,” he stated, effectively challenging the international community to apply the same vigor to resolving the war in Ukraine.
This call underscores the evolving and now-warm relationship between the two leaders, who have moved past earlier tensions. Trump, who has long expressed a desire to stop the killing in Ukraine, heard a clear message from his Ukrainian counterpart: the path to the negotiating table is paved with defensive fortitude and unwavering international support.