A message of profound hope, rooted in a recent diplomatic success, was delivered by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to US President Donald Trump this weekend. In a call celebrating the Gaza peace deal, Zelensky made a powerful and hopeful plea: “If a war can be stopped in one region, then surely other wars can be stopped as well.”
This statement formed the emotional and strategic core of their “very positive” conversation on Saturday. It was an attempt by the Ukrainian leader to universalize the feeling of a breakthrough, to argue that the possibility of peace should not be confined to a single conflict but should be seen as a new global potential.
Zelensky’s hopeful tone was, however, tempered with the harsh reality his country endures. He informed Trump of Russia’s continued aggression, particularly its attacks on the energy system, a reminder that hope alone is not a strategy. This juxtaposition made his subsequent request for support all the more compelling.
The plea for hope was translated into a plea for hardware. The leaders discussed tangible ways to strengthen Ukraine’s air defense, with Zelensky mentioning “good options” on the table. This practical element showed that his hope is not passive; it is an active pursuit of the means necessary to achieve peace.
Ultimately, Zelensky’s message was a challenge to his American counterpart and the world. By framing the end of the “Russian war” as the next logical step after the Gaza deal, he is attempting to rally the international community around a new, optimistic vision for conflict resolution, asking them to believe, as he does, that surely other wars can be stopped.
“Surely Other Wars Can Be Stopped”: Zelensky’s Hopeful Plea to Trump
