People in Kiev said on Tuesday that Donald Trump could end the war in Ukraine after President Volodymyr Zelenskiy praised the US president as a “decisive” leader who would bring about a “just peace” They expressed a mixture of hope and skepticism that this might be the case.
President Trump described himself in his inaugural address as a “peacekeeper” who would avoid drawing the United States into damaging foreign wars, but did not mention Ukraine, almost three months from a full-scale invasion. Nor did he explain how he would persuade President Vladimir Putin to join the negotiations a year later.
Later, President Trump told reporters at the White House that 1 million Russian soldiers had been killed in the war and suggested it was in the interests of both sides to halt the fighting. “he [Putin] Destroying Russia. He should make a deal. “Mr. Zelensky wants a deal,” Trump said.
Ukrainians outside Kiev's Lukyanivska metro station the next morning – Where three people were killed by a Russian missile on Saturday – They said they were anxiously waiting to see what would happen next. Behind it was the destroyed facade of an office building and a damaged branch of McDonald's, the first to open in the Ukrainian capital.
“I think the agreement is unrealistic. Trump is just blah, blah, blah,” said Valeria, a 23-year-old store employee. “He promised to end the conflict within 24 hours. That's not going to happen. My friends are split between those who think he will do something and those who don't.” It’s divided.”
“I watched the inauguration on TV. Trump impressed me. We need to stop the war,” said Mikola, a former physicist. He previously lived in New York and said he had seen President Trump several times outside Trump Tower. “I think he's really going to do something. He got a ceasefire in Israel and Gaza.”
The scientist suggested freezing the current front until diplomatic negotiations could begin. It is unclear whether President Zelenskiy would agree to such a plan or agree to Russia's demands, which would likely include Ukraine's withdrawal from NATO and the loss of further territory. “We need to reach an agreement. It doesn't matter how,” Mikola said.
President Zelensky welcomes President Trump back to the White House. congratulated him on monday. “The policy of peace through force he announced provides an opportunity to strengthen American leadership and achieve a long-term and just peace,” President Zelenskiy wrote. Ukraine expected “mutually beneficial cooperation.”
His heated comments came after relations between Kyiv and the Biden administration became strained. Ukrainian officials said the former president pursued an overly cautious crisis management policy and sent military aid too slowly and in insufficient quantities to defeat Russia. Meanwhile, U.S. officials dismissed Mr. Zelenskiy as unrealistic.
There is still no sign that Mr. Zelensky's diplomatic overtures to Mr. Trump will be reciprocated. “I think Mr. Trump doesn't want him. He didn't invite Zelensky to the inauguration,” said English-speaking graduate Anna Fedorivna. “Maybe Trump can find a way forward. He's at least talking to Putin, but Biden hasn't. I hope something positive comes out of it.”
Ukrainian journalist Kristina Berdinskyv I watched President Trump's speech in a smoke-filled bar in downtown Kyiv. “There was nothing in it about Ukraine. The only foreign policy that came up was Panama, Mexico and Mars,” she said. “I don't think Mr. Trump is thinking much about Ukraine. Our main challenge going forward is to keep his attention.”
Berdinskyk said President Trump's promise to increase U.S. oil and gas drilling is good news for Ukraine. It would drive down the price of Russian oil, which is sent around the world in shadow fleets and used by the Kremlin to finance its massive war economy. “I don't think President Trump will give President Putin a gift to Ukraine. That would make America look weak,” she said.
Anton HerashchenkoThe commentator and former government adviser said Trump wanted the war to end quickly and for Ukraine to become an “internal” issue for Europe. He said the US president's main interests were elsewhere: the continental United States and Asia-Pacific. “As of today, the situation of strategic uncertainty continues,” he said.
President Trump's special envoy to Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, suggested the two countries could work together. Reach agreement within 100 days. But Kellogg canceled a trip to Kiev scheduled for early January. Few Ukrainians believe this schedule is realistic. More likely, they believe, Trump will end U.S. military aid to Ukraine, viewing it as an unwanted legacy of Biden.
In Moscow, President Putin shows no willingness to compromise. His demands include annexing four regions of Ukraine, including areas he does not control, and replacing Zelensky's government with a “neutral” pro-Russian government. Meanwhile, on the battlefield, Russian forces are advancing at the fastest rate since 2022.
“I don't think Putin will stop until he destroys Ukraine. He's an idiot,” said pensioner Petro Frihorovich, adding that Saturday's explosion shook his apartment and woke him up at 6 a.m. He added: “Still, there is some hope. I want the war to end. So many peaceful people have died.”
