Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has expressed optimism following recent comments made by former U.S. President Donald Trump, stating that they provide “hope” for Ukraine amid its ongoing war with Russia.
Speaking at the Ukraine Recovery Conference held in Rome, Zelensky thanked international allies for pledging over €10 billion in aid for the reconstruction of his war-torn country. He stressed the critical role of international support during what he described as a decisive and challenging phase, Sky News reports.
Later, Zelensky joined a virtual session of the “Coalition of the Willing”, which included prominent leaders such as Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, and French President Emmanuel Macron.
In his remarks, the Ukrainian leader acknowledged the involvement of General Keith Kellogg, Trump’s special envoy on Ukraine and Russia, and expressed gratitude to U.S. Senators Lindsey Graham and Richard Blumenthal for their continued backing.
Zelensky also welcomed Trump’s recent signals of support for Ukraine.
“His signals are very, very important, and we are counting on them,” Zelensky said. “I am confident that, moving forward, we will build the Coalition of the Willing together.”
He concluded by emphasizing:
“In Ukraine, we are deeply grateful to the United States Congress and President Trump for their support and willingness to increase pressure on Russia in the name of peace. That is exactly what we need.”
