Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has expressed optimism that U.S. President Donald Trump could play a pivotal role in ending the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war and securing a ceasefire. Highlighting Trump’s background as a businessman, Zelenskyy believes he could effectively pressure Russian President Vladimir Putin to engage in negotiations to conclude the nearly three-year conflict.
Speaking after an impassioned address at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Zelenskyy said, “Trump is a businessman. He knows how to use leverage.” He spoke optimistically of a change in U.S. policy under the new administration and indicated that Trump could be key to moving peace talks forward.
During his previous tenure, Trump asserted that Putin was “destroying Russia” by failing to negotiate a resolution to the war. He warned of potential sanctions against Russia if Putin did not agree to discussions aimed at ending the hostilities.
In a recent interview with podcaster Lex Fridman, Zelenskyy reiterated his belief in Trump’s capability to broker a ceasefire. “Trump is strong and has enough power to pressure Putin into stopping Russia’s war on Ukraine,” he stated. Zelenskyy indicated that an initial conversation with Trump would be essential to align on the ceasefire strategy before approaching Putin.
Traditionally seen as a pro-Russian figure when he was running for president, Trump has in the past been an opponent of military aid to Ukraine, pushing instead for an “America First” policy. He has encouraged European nations to assume more responsibility for Ukraine’s defense and has previously expressed admiration for Putin.
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Putin has indicated a willingness to negotiate a ceasefire, but his conditions remain stringent. Among his demands are guarantees from Ukraine to refrain from joining NATO or the European Union and to limit its military capabilities.
In 2022, multiple rounds of ceasefire negotiations took place between Russia and Ukraine in Turkey, but these talks ultimately yielded no fruitful outcomes.
