Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky achieved a notable diplomatic feat in his Saturday call with Donald Trump, skillfully creating a diplomatic parallel between the Gaza ceasefire and the end of the “Russian war.” By connecting the two, Zelensky sought to universalize the possibility of peace.
The connection was explicit and powerful. After congratulating Trump on the Gaza deal, which he called an “outstanding achievement,” Zelensky stated that the success was proof that “surely” the war in Ukraine “can be ended as well.” This created a narrative of global momentum that benefits Kyiv.
Zelensky reinforced this parallel by immediately pivoting to the necessary conditions for peace in Ukraine. He provided a briefing on Russian attacks on the energy grid and stressed that “real diplomacy” in his region can only be “achieved through strength.”
This strategy of creating a diplomatic parallel is designed to simplify the complex war for a broader international audience and for a US President focused on deal-making. It suggests that applying the same political will and resources that went into the Gaza deal will yield a similar success in Eastern Europe.
The call, therefore, was a masterstroke of messaging, leveraging a US diplomatic victory to secure renewed focus and commitment for Ukraine’s own fight for a peaceful resolution.