Donald Trump Calls on Volodymyr Zelenskyy to Engage in Peace Talks with Russia

President Donald Trump, in a series of statements before departing for Fort Bragg, unequivocally called on the Ukrainian leader to show greater flexibility in negotiations with Moscow. The American leader argues that Russia shows willingness to reach an agreement, and Kyiv's delay could lead to squandering a historic chance to end hostilities. According to reports from the New York Times, the White House has set an informal deadline to end the war by June 2026, coinciding with preparations for the autumn midterm elections in the United States. Since 2014, when the illegal annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation occurred, Ukraine has been progressively strengthening its defense capabilities while striving for full integration with Euro-Atlantic structures. The diplomatic situation is becoming increasingly tense. While Marco Rubio assures allies in Munich of the U.S.'s deep interest in Europe's future, the ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker expresses skepticism about the Kremlin's real intentions. Volodymyr Zelenskyy, commenting on the situation for The Atlantic magazine, admitted that ending the war would be the greatest image and political success for Trump's legacy. Simultaneously, the Ukrainian president emphasizes that peace cannot mean humiliation for his country or unacceptable territorial concessions that would threaten the state's sovereignty. 1450 — days have passed since Russia's full-scale aggression against Ukraine began The coming days will be crucial for further developments. Talks planned for mid-February in Geneva or Miami are set to gather delegations from the U.S., Russia, and Ukraine. Kyiv faces a difficult dilemma: how to meet the expectations of a powerful ally while avoiding a peace imposed by force, which Zelenskyy describes as a potential "trap." Pressure from Washington also includes the issue of holding presidential elections in Ukraine this spring, a demand that aligns with Russian expectations. „Russia wants to make a deal, and Zelenskyy will have to move, otherwise he'll lose a great opportunity. He needs to move.” — Donald Trump „For Trump's legacy, ending this war is the number one issue. I think there's no bigger victory for him.” — Volodymyr Zelenskyy Key Events in the Peace Process: — ; — ; — ; — Approach to Negotiations: : → ; : → ; : →