Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was in South Florida to visit a peace summit. The peace summit, organized by former President Donald Trump, would feature significant advances in ending Russia’s long-stalled war with Russia. The summit happened against the backdrop of intense Russian bombardment deep on the Ukrainian territory — underscoring the emergency of their talks.
At the time of the summit, Trump even called out this belief as controversial, saying that Russia didn’t want Ukraine to fail. Zelenskyy would understandably raise an eyebrow at this outlandish assertion, which Trump himself admitted would come off as “a little weird.” The Ukrainian leader decided not to take the bait on Trump’s downplaying of what the Russian President wanted to do in Ukraine.
Don’t forget that during a subsequent press conference in Kyiv, Zelenskyy thanked Trump for his support. He acknowledged the efforts of Donald Trump’s U.S. team on the quest for peace. He emphasized both the importance and the uniqueness of the partnership. Further, he touched upon the continuing work to finalize a bilateral security agreement between the United States and Ukraine.
Trump indicated that a draft agreement aimed at ending the Russia-Ukraine war was nearly “95% done,” signaling progress in diplomatic negotiations. Both leaders lauded the progress made during their trilateral discussions. They noted unresolved divisions over territory, which remains a major sticking point in their efforts to establish an accord and lasting peace.
Given what was at stake, Zelenskyy’s approach to the summit embodied the perfect balance between optimism and realism. He smiled and nodded as Trump discussed various aspects of their negotiations, reflecting his commitment to finding common ground. He stopped short of speculating out loud about what Russia thinks would happen if Ukraine is able to prevail.
The all-day summit and the ensuing press conference came at a moment when national tensions were particularly high. Dramatic heavy Russian airstrikes savagely pounding Ukrainian cities were day after day within their conference. This stark reality underscored the challenges both leaders face in navigating the complexities of international diplomacy amid ongoing military aggression.