Ukrainians brace themselves for perilous diplomacy with Trump focused on ending war

KYIV - Ukrainians braced themselves on Feb 13 for a hopeful but perilous phase of their war with Russia, after US President Donald Trump’s phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin stirred fears that his move to swiftly end the fighting could cost Ukraine dearly.

Mr Trump’s call to Mr Putin

– the first by a US leader since Moscow’s February 2022 invasion – followed remarks by his defence chief that cast doubt over the full restoration of Ukraine’s borders and its aspiration to join the Nato alliance.

“It truly looks as if they want to surrender Ukraine, because I don’t see any benefits for our country of these negotiations or Trump’s rhetoric,” said Kyiv resident Myroslava Lesko, 23, standing near a sea of flags downtown honouring fallen troops.

Ukraine has tried to urgently forge close ties with the new Trump administration, offering a minerals deal to win US favour, while Russian forces, already occupying a fifth of Ukraine, keep up battlefield pressure.

Ukraine wants the White House to back any peace talks with security guarantees that would stop Russia invading again.

The Trump call with Mr Putin on Feb 12 and remarks by US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth, who said the US would not be sending in troops as peacekeepers, have shocked some of Kyiv’s allies, who believe Washington is sacrificing negotiating leverage.

Mr Trump spoke to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky after his call with Mr Putin.

In interviews with Reuters, Kyiv residents reacted to the prospect of fast-track peace talks with a mix of dismay and cautious hope.

“Trump is a strong-willed person,” said 60-year-old Hryhoriy Buhoyets. “He can decide on whatever he wants, and regarding Ukraine, I think he has some plans.”

Deputy commander Maksym Zhorin of the Third Assault Brigade fighting in the war, wrote on the Telegram app that he had not expected Ukraine to receive quick Nato membership anyway.

“Nato is not ready for war with the Russian Federation. This is evident from their reaction to events and behaviour,” he said.

Kyiv School of Economics president Tymofiy Mylovanov said it looked like the Trump administration’s views were in fact largely in keeping with those of the previous Biden administration.

Some Ukrainians have expressed frustration that the US under Mr Biden, despite providing billions in military aid, had not done enough to tip the war in Kyiv’s favour.

“The difference between Biden and Trump is that Trump says out loud what Biden was thinking and doing about Ukraine,” he wrote on social media platform X.

‘Fasten your seatbelts’

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha told Le Monde newspaper in an interview released on Feb 13 that Ukraine and Europe should not be excluded from future peace talks.

But some officials have urged Ukrainians – many of whom have lost loved ones in fighting that has killed tens of thousands and ravaged vast swathes of the country – not to jump to any conclusions after the remarks.

“Ukraine doesn’t exist because someone had a good conversation on the phone with someone. We survived because we showed the world that we can fight,” said opposition lawmaker Oleksii Honcharenko.

Some officials, who have been lavishing praise on Mr Trump in their effort to build relations, have tried to quickly extinguish what one of them described as “too many unnecessary rumours and conspiracy theories”.

“A difficult process of fighting for Ukraine lies ahead, and we will go through it in unity,” said Ms Daria Zarivna, an adviser to Mr Zelensky’s chief of staff.

Ms Olena Chiupika, 38, a manager in Kyiv, said Ukraine had already proven successful at securing foreign support that had once seemed unrealistic, citing the F-16 fighter jets provided by allies.

“I’m hoping for the best,” she said. “I would like to, because the mood is not great.”

The next diplomatic test for Ukraine is expected at the Munich Security Conference when

Mr Zelensky is likely to meet US Vice-President J.D. Vance.

Ms Hanna Maliar, a former deputy defence minister, appeared to acknowledge the uncertainty of the moment.

“Fasten your seatbelts. We’re taking off,” she said, shortly after news broke of Mr Trump’s call with Mr Putin. “A fascinating journey awaits us. The final destination is so far unknown.” REUTERS