Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday said President Trump’s ability to successfully broker a peace agreement between Israel and Hamas provides hope for an end to the war in Eastern Europe.
“If a war can be stopped in one region, then surely other wars can be stopped as well—including the Russian war,” Zelensky wrote in a statement on the social platform X, after a congratulatory call to Trump.
Steve Witkoff, the special envoy to the Middle East, and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner both worked alongside the Qatari and Egyptian governments to help solidify a peace deal. The president is expected to join the group of negotiators early next week to help oversee the release of hostages and a pause in fighting in Gaza.
Israel and Hamas entered the first phase of the agreement on Friday marking the end of a two-year war and garnering praise from world leaders.
Russian President Vladimir Putin lauded Trump on Friday.
“He’s really doing a lot to resolve such complex crises that have lasted for years and even decades,” Putin said at a summit of former Soviet Union countries in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.
Last month, Trump’s shifted his stance on Ukraine’s ability to regain its “original borders” backing off from previous doubts about their capabilities on the battlefield as the Kremlin continues to strike.
“After getting to know and fully understand the Ukraine/Russia Military and Economic situation and, after seeing the Economic trouble it is causing Russia, I think Ukraine, with the support of the European Union, is in a position to fight and WIN all of Ukraine back in its original form,” Trump posted on Truth Social in late September.
“With time, patience, and the financial support of Europe and, in particular, NATO, the original Borders from where this War started, is very much an option,” he added. “Why not?”
In the same message, the president called Russia a “paper tiger” that was fighting “aimlessly” in their war against Ukraine.
Zelensky shared appreciation for the remarks and on Saturday echoed that the Kremlin has shown no sign of wanting peace in the region.
“I informed President Trump about Russia’s attacks on our energy system—and I appreciate his willingness to support us. We discussed opportunities to bolster our air defense, as well as concrete agreements that we are working on to ensure this. There are good options and solid ideas on how to truly strengthen us,” the Ukrainian leader wrote in his statement on X.
“There needs to be readiness on the Russian side to engage in real diplomacy—this can be achieved through strength,” he added.
