News of the phone call between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday, in which they agreed to meet in person to discuss the war in Ukraine, will have come as an unwelcome surprise to Kyiv.
The country is being hit hard. The last 24 hours alone have seen Russia launch dozens of missiles and more than 300 drones at multiple targets, including major civilian infrastructure. This has led to significant damage to the gas supply network as winter approaches, prompting fears of further outages.
For Ukraine's government, the ongoing Russian strikes signal desperation. As the frontlines maintain a stalemate, both sides suffer heavy losses for minimal territorial gains.
President Zelensky had hoped for increased American military aid during his visit to Washington, believing that Trump might be beginning to see Ukraine's perspective. However, the recent Trump-Putin call has thrown a wrench into these plans, casting doubt on Zelensky's anticipated discussions about acquiring long-range Tomahawk missiles.
Trump's frustration with Putin was evident in a recent statement where he questioned whether Russia wanted Tomahawks targeting them. However, experts debate the military impact of such a weapon, and logistical challenges mean deployment could take months.
While Zelensky attempts to put on a brave face, claiming that Russia's outreach reflects panic, analysts suggest it may be a standard negotiating tactic by Putin. The dynamics are tense as Trump's upcoming summit with Putin might further complicate Zelensky's military requests.
As the war drags into another winter, the hope for decisive American support hangs in the balance, with Zelensky's plea for Tomahawks now likely scrutinized following this unexpected diplomatic pivot.
