Zelensky Urges Trump to Broker Peace in Ukraine as in ‘the Middle East’

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called on Donald Trump to help end the war in Ukraine, citing the US former president’s involvement in the Middle East as a precedent.

During a phone call on Saturday, Zelensky stated that if Trump could stop one war, “others can be stopped as well.” The conversation came a day after Russia launched a large-scale attack on Ukraine’s energy grid, leaving parts of Kyiv and nine other regions without power.

Kyiv has reported that diplomatic efforts to end Russia’s invasion have slowed in recent months, partly because global attention has shifted to Israel’s two-year conflict with Hamas.

Trump, who announced the first phase of a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas on Wednesday, previously met Russian President Vladimir Putin in August but failed to achieve any peace agreement.

“I had a call with US President Donald Trump. A very positive and productive one,” Zelensky said on Facebook, praising Trump’s “outstanding” ceasefire plan in the Middle East.
“If a war can be stopped in one region, then surely other wars can be stopped as well, including the Russian war,” he added, calling for Trump to pressure the Kremlin into negotiations.

Relations between Zelensky and Trump have improved significantly since February, when tensions flared during a televised White House meeting. Trump has since become more hostile towards Moscow while expressing sympathy for Ukraine.

In September, Trump wrote on Truth Social that Kyiv should aim to “take back” all its occupied territory with the help of Europe and NATO.

US First Lady Melania Trump announced on Friday that she had secured the release of Ukrainian children abducted by Russia through an extraordinary back channel with Putin.

Russian attacks on Saturday reportedly killed at least five people and cut power to parts of southern Ukraine, including the Odesa region.

• Two fatalities occurred inside a church in Kostyantynivka when it was hit by a strike.
• In Russia’s border region of Belgorod, a truck driver was killed by a Ukrainian strike.

Moscow has repeatedly targeted Ukraine’s energy grid each winter since the 2022 invasion, cutting power, heating, and water supplies to millions. Kyiv has called this a war crime, while Russia claims energy facilities are used by Ukraine for military purposes.

Ukrainian drone attacks have also killed two people in Russia, according to regional officials.

Both Ukraine and Russia have accused each other of obstructing peace efforts in recent months:

Russia’s full-scale invasion began in February 2022, described by Moscow as a “special military operation” to demilitarise Ukraine and halt NATO expansion. Kyiv and its allies characterise it as an illegal land grab, resulting in tens of thousands of civilian and military casualties and extensive destruction.

Humanitarian Impact

• Millions of Ukrainians have been displaced since 2022.
• Russia currently occupies around one-fifth of Ukraine, much of it heavily damaged by fighting.

The ongoing war continues to devastate communities, infrastructure, and regional stability, underscoring Zelensky’s urgent call for international diplomatic intervention.

Key Facts at a Glance