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“President Zelenskyy has navigated the situation masterfully,” Volker noted. “By aligning with President Trump’s priorities, he’s effectively demonstrated that the issue isn’t Ukraine—it’s Putin.”
The coming weeks will be critical for both Kyiv and Moscow.
“I believe Trump will reach out to Putin and urge him to end the war. However, I don’t think Putin will agree,” Volker said. “At that point, I expect the Trump administration will realize the need to project strength and show greater resolve, putting everything on the table.”
This could involve imposing stricter sanctions, significantly boosting U.S. energy exports to undermine Putin’s war funding, and maintaining robust military support for Ukraine. Volker clarified that this wouldn’t necessarily require direct taxpayer funding. “There are different ways to achieve this, such as establishing a lend-lease program or encouraging Europe to seize €300 billion in frozen Russian assets to purchase U.S. defense equipment,” he explained. “Such measures would signal to Putin that the situation is only going to worsen for him.”
Two contrasting views in Ukraine
Zoya Lytvyn, leader of the Global Government Technology Centre in Kyiv, highlighted the divided Ukrainian perspectives on Trump. The first group comprises those who revere Western ideals, align themselves with the U.S. Democratic Party, and harbor fears about Trump and Vice President JD Vance.
On the other hand, the second group argues that they’ve already witnessed the extent of Biden’s support—and that it falls short of what’s needed. For them, Trump offers a potential path toward stabilization, as they believe he wields enough influence to make a decisive impact.
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