Zelenskyy in US for Crucial Talks with Trump

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has arrived in the United States in the hope of receiving vital American support for Kyiv, or at least a firm promise of it. However, this time the mood of the Ukrainian delegation is cautious: officials admit that they do not expect "miracles," given the difficult situation at the front and the uncertainty of relations with the administration of US President Donald Trump.

The visit's agenda is packed: Zelenskyy will address the UN General Assembly, but all eyes are on his meeting with President Trump. This meeting is seen as crucial to understanding the future US strategy regarding the Russo-Ukrainian War. Unlike his predecessor, Donald Trump is known for his skepticism about multi-billion dollar aid packages to Ukraine. He has repeatedly stated that he wants to end the war quickly and has insisted that European allies should bear a greater financial burden. Although the US remains Ukraine's number one military donor, and a $61 billion aid package was approved earlier this year, Kyiv is concerned that future support could be conditioned by Trump's "transactional" approach.

Zelenskyy's team faces two main tasks: first, to understand Trump's real intentions and his vision for ending the war, and second, to try to secure concrete military supplies. Kyiv's priorities are Patriot-type anti-aircraft defense systems to protect against Russian missile strikes, and ATACMS-type long-range missiles to strike targets deep in the front.

Zelenskyy's visit comes at a difficult time for Ukraine on the battlefield. Russian troops are making slow but steady progress, and the Ukrainian army is on the defensive. Against this backdrop, Zelenskyy is also trying to combat "war fatigue" in the West, calling on allies not to weaken their support.

Taking all this into account, Zelenskyy's visit is not so much about victories and new promises, as it is an attempt to maintain a vital level of support in conditions of realistic diplomacy and political uncertainty.