Following a tense meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, former U.S. President Donald Trump, and Vice President JD Vance, Zelenskyy has signaled a willingness to negotiate peace with Russia. Despite being asked to leave the Oval Office early after a heated discussion on Ukraine’s security and a proposed mineral trade agreement, Zelenskyy later wrote to Trump expressing his readiness for peace talks. Trump publicly read the letter, in which Zelenskyy emphasized Ukraine’s gratitude for U.S. support and reiterated his willingness to negotiate under Trump’s leadership. This shift in tone has led to cautious optimism from Moscow, though Kremlin officials have questioned how talks could proceed given Zelenskyy’s 2022 decree banning negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Amid these diplomatic maneuvers, Russia launched a deadly drone attack on Odesa, underscoring the ongoing conflict. At the same time, Trump’s decision to pause all military aid to Ukraine has drastically altered U.S. foreign policy, putting Ukraine’s ability to defend itself at risk. The U.S. has provided approximately $65.9 billion in military assistance since Russia’s invasion, but Trump framed the halt in aid as a necessary step toward peace. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov welcomed the prospect of negotiations, calling the decision “the best contribution to the cause of peace,” suggesting that without U.S. support, Ukraine may have no choice but to come to the table. However, with continued Russian aggression, the feasibility of genuine peace talks remains uncertain.