Zelensky’s Calculus: Praise Trump’s Deal to Secure US Action on Ukraine

In a calculated diplomatic move, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is employing a strategy of public praise for President Donald Trump’s Gaza peace deal as a means to secure direct US action to end the war in Ukraine. The message is clear: what you did there, you can do here.
Zelensky’s calculus appears to be that by framing the Gaza deal as an “outstanding achievement” and a personal “success” for Trump, he can create a compelling political incentive for the White House to engage more deeply in the Ukrainian conflict.
“It is important that President Trump succeeded,” Zelensky said, before immediately pivoting: “Undoubtedly, the right actions by the United States can also help bring an end to Russia’s war against Ukraine.” He even hinted that a Ukrainian plan awaits, stating, “We have a corresponding vision for this.”
This strategy is not being executed in a vacuum. Zelensky is carefully coordinating his messaging with allies like Finnish President Alex Stubb, likely to ensure that his praise of the US is seen as a serious diplomatic initiative, not just flattery.
This entire diplomatic effort is underpinned by a desperate military situation. With Russia continuing its “aerial terror,” including attacks on hospitals and power plants, Zelensky’s strategic praise is less about abstract diplomacy and more about securing the intervention and military hardware needed for national survival.