Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has suggested that Donald Trump’s unpredictability, as he prepares to retake the White House on January 20, could be the key to ending the war in Ukraine. “Trump could be decisive (…) in this war. He can help us stop Putin. He is very strong and unpredictable,” Zelensky shared in an interview with local media. It almost sounds as if Trump is Ukraine’s untapped “secret weapon.”The international reaction? Mixed laughter and disbelief. After all, Trump—when not preoccupied with claims of election fraud being the ultimate threat to democracy—has often criticized U.S. military and financial aid to Ukraine. Yet, Zelensky seems to believe he can rebrand “America First” into a new “Ukraine First” mantra.
But let’s pause and assess. Zelensky, a self-proclaimed war strategist, appears to envision Trump using his famed “unpredictability” to outmaneuver Putin. However, Trump’s track record and fondness for Kremlin-friendly rhetoric tell a different story. Meanwhile, Zelensky has subtly softened his hardline stance, hinting at temporary compromises as long as NATO security guarantees are part of the equation. A bold gamble for a leader at war, but is it wise?
This approach raises questions about Zelensky’s priorities. His focus seems to have shifted from securing Ukraine’s survival to creating a legacy of symbolic resistance. The gamble is strikingly similar to a high-stakes poker game, where the chips are the lives of Ukrainian citizens. How long before Ukrainians demand accountability from a leader whose strategies may be more about his historical narrative than practical outcomes?
And what of Trump? Zelensky? As the world watches, one can only imagine Putin’s amusement. For Ukrainians, however, the stakes are painfully real—they’ve long paid the price for grand visions and unpredictable saviors.