Russo-Ukrainian War
Zelensky: Trump’s unpredictability can benefit Kiev
Updated on January 3, 2025 – 4:01 p.mReading time: 2 minutes
The inauguration of the new US President Donald Trump in January is associated with a lot of uncertainty for Ukraine, especially with regard to further aid. But Kyiv hopes that the Trump factor will be more beneficial.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky hopes to be able to use the unpredictability of future US President Donald Trump to his advantage. “I think he is strong and unpredictable. I very much wish that President Trump’s unpredictability affects primarily the Russian Federation side,” the head of state said in an interview broadcast on Ukrainian television. Zelenskyj assumes that Trump is genuinely interested in a peace agreement and that Russian President Vladimir Putin fears the future US president.
In the interview, the head of state once again promised Ukrainians that all territories occupied by Russia since 2014 will return. He also insisted on tough security guarantees for his country and rejected Moscow’s demand for a reduction in the size of the Ukrainian army in order to reach a peace agreement. “We understand that he (Putin) will destroy and occupy us with such an army of 40,000 to 50,000 that there will no longer be an independent Ukraine,” Zelensky emphasized.
Zelensky acknowledged the continuous Russian advance, especially in eastern Ukraine, and attributed it primarily to a lack of reserves. “We are doing everything we can to ensure that there is front stabilization in January,” he promised. The number of deserters has been declining since October. It recently became known that a third of a newly formed brigade with over 1,700 soldiers, most of which was trained in France, had deserted. By the end of November, the Ukrainian public prosecutor’s office had opened almost 70,000 cases for desertion or unauthorized absence from the troops last year – many times more than in the previous two years.
Ukraine has been defending itself against a Russian invasion with Western help for almost three years. With Trump taking office on January 20th, Kiev fears a reduction in US aid. Zelensky also devoted part of his New Year’s address to asking Washington not to let up in its support of the country.
