In a televised interview on Thursday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed cautious optimism that the upcoming presidency of Donald Trump could potentially help bring an end to the nearly 3-year war with Russia. Zelenskyy pointed to Trump’s unorthodox and unpredictable approach as a possible asset in brokering peace between the two nations.
“He’s very strong and unpredictable, and I would really like to see President Trump’s unpredictability apply to Russia,” Zelenskyy remarked. “I believe he really wants to end the war. He is capable of stopping Putin or, to put it more fairly, help us stop Putin. He is able to do this.”
Building Bridges with Trump
Since Trump’s election victory in November, the Ukrainian leader has sought to establish a positive relationship with the incoming administration. Zelenskyy and his team are working to combat concerns that the Republican president-elect may slow down or halt vital US military aid to Ukraine once in office.
For Ukraine, a just peace would entail receiving robust security guarantees from allies, gaining European Union membership, and securing an invitation to join NATO – a prospect vehemently opposed by Moscow. Zelenskyy emphasized that Trump’s unique approach could be instrumental in achieving these goals and stopping Russian aggression.
Ukrainian Forces Strike Russian Command Post
Meanwhile, the Ukrainian military reported carrying out a precision strike on a Russian command post in the Kursk region on Thursday. Ukrainian forces currently hold territory in parts of Kursk, five months after launching a major incursion. Despite Russian claims of recapturing lost ground, the Ukrainian military asserted that these strikes “disrupt the ability of the Russian Federation to conduct terrorism against innocent Ukrainian civilians.”
Probe into Ukrainian Soldiers Fleeing
In a separate development, Ukraine opened a criminal investigation into alleged desertion and “abuse of power” after reports emerged of hundreds of soldiers fleeing from the 155th Mechanised Brigade, dubbed “Anne of Kyiv.” The unit, partially trained by France, has faced management issues hindering its development as Ukraine bolsters its forces in anticipation of potential new Russian offensives.
Impact of Russian Gas Cutoff
The European Union reported stable gas supplies across most member states on Thursday, a day after Russian gas transit via Ukraine ceased. Kyiv’s refusal to renew the longstanding arrangement has significantly reduced Russian gas flows to Europe. However, Moldova’s breakaway Transnistria region has been hit hard by the cutoff, forcing the closure of all industrial companies except food producers in the primarily Russian-speaking territory of 450,000 people.
As the war in Ukraine approaches its third year, President Zelenskyy’s hope in Donald Trump’s unorthodox approach to diplomacy offers a glimmer of potential progress towards ending the conflict. However, with ongoing military strikes, internal challenges within the Ukrainian forces, and the fallout from Russian gas disruptions, the path to peace remains complex and uncertain.
