‘Real Diplomacy’ with Russia: Zelensky Tells Trump It Must Be ‘Achieved Through Strength’

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky delivered a clear strategic message to Donald Trump on Saturday: the only viable path to “real diplomacy” with Russia is one paved with military fortitude. In a call following the Gaza peace deal, Zelensky asserted that Russia’s “readiness” to negotiate in good faith “can be achieved through strength.”
This principle guided the entire “positive and productive” conversation. After praising Trump’s diplomatic success, Zelensky immediately applied the lesson to Ukraine, arguing that his nation must be formidable enough to compel Moscow to the negotiating table on acceptable terms.
The discussion then centered on how to acquire that necessary strength. Zelensky provided a direct briefing on Russia’s attacks against Kyiv’s energy infrastructure, demonstrating the ongoing need for defensive capabilities to survive the current assault and build future leverage.
The leaders subsequently delved into specifics, discussing “good options and solid ideas” for strengthening Ukraine’s air defense. The pursuit of “concrete agreements” in this area is a direct implementation of Zelensky’s “strength” doctrine, aimed at denying Russia its objectives from the air.
This call reaffirmed a shared philosophical ground between the two leaders, moving past previous tensions to align on a pragmatic, power-based strategy for ending the conflict. Zelensky’s public post on X served as an explicit commitment to this “peace through strength” approach.