The recent face-to-face between Presidents Trump and Zelensky might have looked like an improvement. After a year of a strained relationship, the mood appeared conciliatory at Mar-a-Lago, with Trump even calling it “terrific.” But don’t let the polite smiles fool you. Beneath the surface, the US president’s rhetoric still hinted at a strategy to pressure Kyiv while subtly appeasing Moscow.
A major concern emerged on the toughest question: territory. Trump suggested Ukraine might lose land anyway and asked if a deal now wouldn’t be better. This chilling sentiment echoed the Kremlin, which had just summarized Putin’s view that Ukraine should cede the Donbas without delay. For Ukraine, any territorial concessions would likely require a public referendum, which Zelensky insists cannot happen without at least a 60-day ceasefire. Without a ceasefire, there’s no referendum, no concessions, and no deal – just more time for Russia to advance.
Zelensky highlighted the grim reality for Ukrainians: “War, missiles, artillery,” as blackouts continued across the country. Meanwhile, Trump strangely praised Putin for being “very good” on the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, which Russia seized by force in 2022 and has repeatedly put at risk. This contrasted sharply with UN nuclear watchdogs warning of constant threats to the plant’s safety.
There was one small glimmer of progress: written US security guarantees for Ukraine, though they come with a 15-year expiry and still need congressional approval. However, the path to direct peace talks remains elusive. Russia continues to demand Ukraine withdraw from territories it doesn’t even occupy, and the “diplomatic merry-go-round” of working groups and summits looks set to continue into 2026.
Despite some small shifts, the overall picture suggests a prolonged stalemate, with Ukraine caught between ongoing aggression and complex diplomatic pressures.
