Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky defined his overarching strategy for ending the war as “Peace Through Power” in a Saturday phone call with US President Donald Trump. The principle, which insists on a massive build-up of military capability before a diplomatic breakthrough, guided their entire discussion.
Zelensky made his position crystal clear: “There needs to be readiness on the Russian side to engage in real diplomacy—this can be achieved through strength.” This concept of “power” as the precursor to peace is the cornerstone of Ukraine’s current strategy.
The two leaders then discussed the practical elements of this strategy. Zelensky briefed Trump on Russia’s attacks on Kyiv’s energy system, which demonstrated the current need for power. This led directly to a discussion on strengthening air defense, the most crucial element in building that necessary leverage.
The pursuit of “concrete agreements” for defense, as mentioned by Zelensky, is the direct implementation of the “Peace Through Power” doctrine. These agreements are seen as the tools to shift the military balance and compel Russia to the negotiating table on terms favorable to Ukraine.
By firmly establishing this strategic definition with Trump, Zelensky ensured that the continued US support is aligned with Kyiv’s long-term vision, moving the focus from mere defense to active leverage creation.