Summary
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Russia must withdraw to its pre-invasion positions from February 24, 2022.
In an interview with Newsmax, he hoped that Donald Trump, with European backing, could end the war and influence Putin.
Zelenskyy emphasized that Ukraine will not accept any negotiated settlement that excludes its involvement.
He also suggested that Trump needs a diplomatic success to differentiate his approach from Biden’s. However, there is no indication that Russia is willing to retreat.
Ukraine doesn’t have the luxury of stopping Trump or anyone else—it’s not about controlling his actions but surviving the fallout. If Trump cozies up to Saudi Arabia or Russia, Ukraine’s best move is to double down on alliances with Europe and any U.S. factions still committed to its sovereignty.
The cost? Likely higher dependence on European support and a brutal recalibration of strategy to counteract waning American backing. But the alternative—appeasing Trump’s whims—is worse. It risks turning Ukraine into a bargaining chip in his transactional games, where sovereignty is just another line item on a deal sheet.
Ukraine’s survival hinges on resilience, not waiting for foreign leaders to act rationally. Betting otherwise is playing Russian roulette—literally.
So why would they try? Why are you characterising them not attempting the impossible as “banking on Trump”?
Noone but MAGA has Trump as Plan A, B, and C.
Ukraine’s Plan A here is dictated by happenstance: Gotta wait for Trump because he’s gotta have his try. Plan B is going it alone with Europe. Plan C is their own military production. Plan D is partisan warfare. Ukraine is prepared for all of them.
They should have a plan E, which should actually be plan A, and dust off those old nuclear designs and build a bomb.