News of the phone call between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday, in which they agreed to meet in person to discuss the war in Ukraine, will have come as an unwelcome surprise to Kyiv.
The country is being hit hard. The last 24 hours alone have seen Russia launch dozens of missiles and more than 300 drones at multiple targets, including vital civilian infrastructure and the gas supply network as winter looms.
For Ukraine's government, the current situation illustrates Russian desperation amid a stalemate at the frontlines, which has involved significant casualties for minimal territory changes.
Before flying to Washington, Zelensky was hopeful that Trump would align more with Ukraine's perspective, especially after previous tensions and Trump's frustration with Putin's intransigence. There were expectations that this meeting could yield the long-sought provision of Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine.
However, the substance of Trump's conversation with Putin, which dominated the news cycle, has raised uncertainties about U.S. support for Ukraine. Trump's frustration with the Russian president was palpable during a recent press conference where he suggested that missile deployments could deter further aggression.
As Zelensky arrives in Washington, he faces a complex landscape. Despite ongoing military assaults on Ukraine and evident Russian weaknesses, international dialogue continues to skew in Putin's favor.
In conversations, the Kremlin indicated that military hardware provisions to Ukraine would be viewed as provocations, underlining the delicate nature of the current political climate. As the prospect of Trump and Putin meeting in Hungary looms, Zelensky's calls for urgent military aid face increasing skepticism amid shifting U.S. diplomatic efforts.
While the struggle continues for Ukraine, Zelensky seeks to bolster his country's defenses and consolidate international support amidst an evolving geopolitical chessboard.
