With Gaza Deal Hailed, a New “Chance” for Peace in Ukraine Emerges

The successful negotiation of a Gaza peace deal is being hailed by Ukraine as the catalyst that creates a “good chance” for peace in its own long-running conflict with Russia. This was the central message from President Volodymyr Zelensky to US President Donald Trump during a phone call on Saturday, where he linked the two issues as part of a global opportunity for peace.
This sentiment echoes President Trump’s own words from an August meeting, where he spoke about the potential to end the Ukraine war: “We have a good chance of doing it.” Zelensky’s call effectively served as a reminder of this shared goal, suggesting that the “chance” for peace has now become significantly better in light of the Gaza success.
Zelensky’s argument is that the Gaza deal provides a new blueprint and a renewed sense of what is possible in international diplomacy. By congratulating Trump, he was also implicitly stating that the leader who achieved that deal is the one best positioned to help broker an end to the “Russian war.”
The conversation about strengthening Ukraine’s air defenses is part of turning this “chance” into a reality. Both leaders seem to agree that the opportunity for peace cannot be seized from a position of weakness. Therefore, bolstering Ukraine’s military is seen as the first and most critical step in capitalizing on this new opening.
The mood following the call is one of renewed, if cautious, optimism. A major diplomatic hurdle has been cleared in one part of the world, and the key players in another conflict now see a new “chance” to apply those lessons and finally bring an end to nearly four years of war.