**Zelensky Optimistic About Quicker End to War Under Trump Presidency**

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has expressed confidence that the ongoing conflict with Russia will conclude sooner with Donald Trump assuming the US presidency. This assertion followed what Zelensky described as a "constructive exchange" during a phone call with Trump after his election victory.

While Zelensky didn’t specify if Trump made any demands regarding negotiations with Russia, he noted that Trump’s remarks aligned with Ukraine's stance. Trump has long emphasized ending the war and halting what he views as an undue drain on US resources through military aid to Ukraine.

"The policies of the incoming US administration indicate that the war will end sooner. This current team has made this commitment to their citizens," Zelensky stated in an interview with Ukrainian media outlet Suspilne. He stressed the importance of Ukraine pursuing all diplomatic avenues to achieve peace by the coming year, even as the battlefield situation remains challenging with Russian forces advancing.

Due to US legislation, Zelensky mentioned that an official meeting with Trump can only occur after Trump's inauguration in January. Despite a complex history, including Trump’s impeachment in 2019 over allegations of pressuring Zelensky to investigate the Biden family, Trump has maintained that he has a positive relationship with the Ukrainian president.

During a meeting in New York in September, Trump remarked that he "learned a lot" from Zelensky and promised to resolve the war swiftly, though he has yet to detail his plan for doing so. Democratic critics accuse Trump of being overly congenial with Russian President Vladimir Putin, suggesting that Trump's approach could lead to a surrender that threatens all of Europe.

However, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who also spoke with Trump after his election win, presented Trump's stance as more "nuanced" than widely perceived. Scholz described their conversation as detailed and constructive.

Earlier this year, the US House of Representatives passed a $61 billion military aid package for Ukraine, supplementing the significant arms and equipment support, which the US has provided, amounting to $55.5 billion from February 2022 to June 2024 as per the Kiel Institute for the World Economy.