In recent developments, attention has shifted to Ukraine and the ongoing developments in its war with Russia. There have been talks of Trump calling Putin regarding the resolution of this conflict, and just recently, Putin shot down this rumor, claiming he had no such call with Trump—a mere fiction.

However, they did admit that Trump’s win is a positive development. But, while they have shown appreciation for President Trump, this does not mean it will translate to a ceasefire and peace for Ukraine.

What if the call did happen according to Trump?

Although the conversation’s content wasn’t disclosed, he reportedly made four points:

First, he urged Putin not to escalate the war; second, he reminded him of U.S. deployments in Europe; third, he called for further talks to end the conflict; and lastly, he discussed land—a possibility of Ukraine giving up land in exchange for peace.

But what exactly is his plan to prevent the war from escalating further?

First, he wants to freeze the frontline, then create a 1,200-kilometer, European-manned buffer zone.

However, the issue with this is that Ukraine will have to abandon its NATO ambitions. The advantage? The U.S. would flood them with weapons as a deterrent to another Russian attack.

Although many concerns remain, the main ones are: will Ukraine give up territory, and will Russia agree to the rearming of Ukraine? One personal question I consider is, will Ukraine be willing to give up on its NATO ambitions, one of its driving reasons for taking up the fight against Russia in the first place?

This matter extends to Biden’s actions in the next 70 days. Reports suggest Biden will try to lobby his successor to reconsider Ukraine support. This seems bleak as Trump’s team excludes pro-Ukraine leaders.

Another factor is their European allies. They stressed unwavering support for Ukraine, though the numbers tell a different story.

The U.S. alone has provided $174 billion in aid, compared to the EU’s $131 billion across 21 countries. This disparity indicates the EU cannot sustain Ukraine alone and relies on U.S. support.

If the EU truly hopes to support Ukraine’s war efforts without U.S. backing, it must secure funding quickly before Trump possibly cuts aid.

Meanwhile, Moscow launched around 145 drones toward Ukraine, causing five fatalities and numerous injuries in the south. Kyiv claims these were Iran-made drones, with about 62 shot down. Ukraine attempted to retaliate with 84 drones across different regions, targeting Moscow among others, though the impact was minimal, with only a few injuries and some diverted flights from three airports.

This was reported to be the largest drone fight since the start of the war.

The question arises: why the sudden aggression from Ukraine?

It could be a display of strength to reassure allies of their resolve and encourage continued support. Or a desperate attempt to try and cause a meaningful impact to the war.

However, despite this show of force, Russia retains the advantage, advancing 500 sq/km into Ukrainian territory. Worsening the situation, North Korean troops stand ready to enter the conflict via the Kursk region. In other words, there are allies other than Iran supporting Russia’s war, willing to take up the risks with them.

The pressing question now is, will Zelenskyy accept Trump’s deal or rely on EU support?

If he accepts, he loses land and NATO ambitions. If he leans on EU allies, he risks losing the battlefield and his country altogether.

Zelenskyy must take a step back to review everything as over 10,000 North Korean soldiers join Russia’s 40,000 troops poised to assault Ukrainian positions in the Kursk region.

Zelenskyy also criticized China for its silence on this escalation.

Why does this all matter?

This will test U.S. influence in controlling conflicts and supporting allies to maintain the current global order. Failure to manage this war may weaken U.S. credibility as a global authority, while success could bolster U.S. standing and possibly delay worse outcomes.