Trump and Zelenskyy voice optimism after meeting on Ukraine war

U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy have both characterized their high-stakes meeting in Davos on Thursday as constructive, fostering cautious optimism about diplomatic efforts to conclude the nearly four-year war. The hour-long discussion on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum coincided with intensified U.S. shuttle diplomacy between Kyiv and Moscow.

Mutually Positive Assessments

Following the talks, Trump stated, "I had a very good meeting with President Zelenskyy. Everybody wants to have the war end." He confirmed that a meeting involving Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner is scheduled, though the exact timing appeared fluid, with Trump saying it would be Friday and Putin indicating Thursday. Zelenskyy echoed the positive tone on social media platform X, describing the meeting as "good," "productive and substantive."

Focus on Air Defense and Document Preparation

Zelenskyy provided specific details from the discussion, highlighting ongoing work between their teams and the preparation of documents. He expressed gratitude for a previous package of air defense missiles secured after an earlier meeting with Trump and formally requested an additional package to further strengthen Ukraine's protection against Russian aerial attacks. "I hope that this time we will reinforce it further as well," the Ukrainian leader wrote.

Broader Diplomatic Context and Optimism

The bilateral meeting is a key component of a broader diplomatic push. Trump, alluding to the conflict, remarked, "We have peace in the Middle East … and I believe another one's coming pretty soon." U.S. envoy Witkoff bolstered this sentiment, suggesting that negotiators are now focused on resolving a single final issue. This flurry of high-level engagement, including the upcoming trilateral talks in the UAE, indicates a concerted attempt by the Trump administration to broker a settlement, though the most contentious political and territorial issues remain unresolved.