Trump’s meeting with the Ukrainian Zelinski provides a glimmer of hope

President Trump’s situation among the Ukrainians is practically in supporting life. But many chanted with one statement he made on Saturday after a meeting with President Voludimir Zellinski, and asked why President Vladimir F. Putin is from Russia to hit Ukraine, where the United States is trying to peace talks.

“This makes me think that he may not want to stop the war, he only exploits me.”

Today’s events were a victory for Mr. Zellinski and Ukraine in a critical turn in the war, which began to invade Russia on a large scale in February 2022. The United States was pushing Ukraine to accept the partially -to -peace plan to Moscow. The suggestion would force Kiev to give up his aspirations to join NATO, and only Ukraine provides mysterious security guarantees – and the US vision officially recognizes Crimea. Ukraine This deal, which the Trump administration described as its final offer.

But now, there is a small glimmer of hope that Mr. Trump will not try to force Ukraine on an unbalanced peace plan. She appeared for the first time in repercussions A massive Russian missile attack In the capital of Ukraine early on Thursday, which killed 12 people and about 90 people were injured. “Vladimir, stop!” Mr. Trump posted on the social truth, in a rare reprimand by Mr. Putin.

After that, the hope grew a little on Saturday when Mr. Zelinski managed to assemble About 15 minutes With Mr. Trump in Rome. photo The Ukrainian government showed the two men sitting on the chairs and tending towards each other, speaking as it equals – a completely different scene from a catastrophic meeting in the Oval Office in late February, which ended with Mr. Zellinski’s sudden departure from the White House and the temporary freezing of American aid.

The photos from Rome were “extraordinary,” said Folodimir Dubovic, Director of the Center for International Studies at Odessa II University of Michenikov National. He added that it was a good idea that Mr. Zelinski had some time alone with Mr. Trump.

“The Trump team has been exposed to the Kremlin and the talks recently, so that Kiev can present their point of view directly to Trump, assume,” said Mr. Dubovic.

Some Ukrainians who were interviewed on Sunday in Kiev have admitted that Mr. Trump could change his opinion quickly. But they took condolences in the fact that the White House described a “very fruitful discussion.”

Oliya Karas, 40, who was collecting donations to buy drones outside a memorial for the fallen soldiers, described Mr. Trump and Mr. Zelinsky “amazing” and said he seemed that “Trump was listening to him.”

“Trump may finally stumble with clear things with Putin,” said Mr. Karas, adding that the leader of Russia cannot be trusted. While he was standing in front of thousands of flags planted on the ground, each of a dead soldier said, Mr. Karas said: “Trump should come here.

Even a small thing like Mr. Trump’s short meeting with Mr. Zelinski poetry like a big change. Since he took office, the Trump administration has almost sometimes appeared to Mr. Putin, A sharp reflection In US policy. Mr. Trump did not hide any bad hate to the Ukrainian leader.

So, Mr. Trump’s statements about the social truth seemed after meeting for many in Ukraine, such as something of justification or what they say for years: Mr. Putin may not say the truth.

Ukraine has been fighting Russia in the East Donbas region since 2014 and Mr. Putin The multiple peace agreements violated It aims to end violence there. The Russian leader also claimed that he had no intention to install a wider invasion of Ukraine until the moment when his tanks crossed the border in 2022 to start the comprehensive invasion.

This date is the reason that the Ukraine government insisted that any peace deal in this war with Russia must include a strong security guarantee – and why it wants NATO membership, although this dream has been suspended.

The Ukrainians have now faced the Trump administration’s peace plan, which calls for a European peacekeeping power with the United States to provide a backup copy. In a post of social media after the meeting on Saturday, Mr. Zellinski did not enter into details about his conversation with Mr. Trump, but he said they talked about “a full and unconditional and unconditional shooting, and” a reliable and permanent peace that would prevent another war. “

Mr. Trump has repeatedly said that Ukraine is losing the war and has no influence to be able to demand a great deal of Russia – an approach to foreign policy transactions at odds with many Western leaders. It appears that some of the financial lever that Ukraine had been lost at some point: Russia’s first military commander said on Saturday that Russian forces had completely regained the Russian region of Kursk, more than eight months after the Ukrainian forces launched a sudden penetration. On Sunday, Ukrainian officials continued to deny that they had been expelled from all of your corses.

After the meeting between Mr. Zellinski and Mr. Trump, Senator Lindsey Graham – Republican from South Carolina, who was a strong ally of Ukraine but he has Tone In the midst of Mr. Trump’s batch of a quick peace – he seemed to feel the opening. He praised the efforts of the Trump administration The ceasefire broker He also described a recent threat from the two parties to impose more sanctions on Moscow.

However, there is no doubt that the pressure depends on Ukraine to conclude a deal, whether at home or from the Trump administration. The mayor of Kiev, Vitaly Klitschko, who had a tense relationship with Mr. Zellinski, told the BBC after hours of the huge missile attack on Thursday that it might have come. Abandonment For peace, at least temporarily. Mr. Zelinski has He also said Ukraine may have to waive some lands for a peace agreement – lands that hope to restore through diplomatic means – as long as it gets a security guarantee, such as NATO membership.

Despite the positive feelings about the Saturday meeting of the two leaders, questions about their relationship remained. After brief talks, a Ukrainian spokesman said that the two men would meet again later on Saturday. But Mr. Trump rapidly departed from the funeral of the Pope, and told the assistants that he wanted to return to the United States by the end of the day.

After Mr. Trump resigned the first air force to leave, a Ukrainian spokesman said that the second meeting would not happen due to “very narrow tables for presidents.”

Oleksandra mykolyyshyn She contributed to the reports from Kyiv, Ukraine.