**Ukraine’s President Sees Hope in Trump’s Presidency**
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky is optimistic that the war with Russia will end sooner than expected now that Donald Trump has become US president.
Zelensky had a phone conversation with Trump after his victory in the US presidential election. He said it was a “constructive exchange” but did not reveal any details about possible talks with Russia.
Trump has consistently stated that ending the war is his priority. He wants to stop the drain on US resources, which includes military aid to Ukraine.
In March, the US House of Representatives approved a $61 billion military aid package for Ukraine.
However, support for arming Ukraine has waned in recent months, particularly among Republican voters who Trump has successfully courted.
**The War Continues**
Despite Zelensky’s optimism, the war continues. Russian forces have made advances on the battlefield, and fighting is intense in the eastern Donbas region.
On Friday, Russian forces made incremental gains along the eastern front line, with significant fighting taking place around the city of Kupyansk.
Ukrainian forces launched a break-out offensive into Russia’s Kursk region over the summer. This was seen as an attempt to divert Russian troops away from the front lines in Ukraine.
**Diplomatic Solution**
Zelensky has emphasized the need for a diplomatic solution to end the war. He believes that a new US administration can help bring about this outcome.
Trump’s Democratic opponents have accused him of being too soft on Russia and say his approach will endanger all of Europe.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz spoke with Trump after his election win and said he had a “more nuanced” position on the war than was commonly assumed.
However, Zelensky criticized Scholz for speaking with Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier this week. Despite Scholz’s office saying he reiterated his call to end the war, Zelensky felt it weakened Putin’s isolation.
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