Contrasting Visions: Zelensky Touts Peace Momentum While Detailing Russian “Aerial Terror”

President Volodymyr Zelensky is presenting the world with two starkly contrasting visions: a hopeful future of peace inspired by the Gaza deal, and the grim present reality of Russian “aerial terror.” He is urging global leaders to help him bridge the gap by applying the lessons of the former to end the latter.
The hopeful vision is centered on what Zelensky calls the “momentum for advancing peace” created by the US-brokered Gaza agreement. He has repeatedly praised President Donald Trump’s “success,” portraying it as a universally applicable model for conflict resolution. “The war in Europe can also be brought to an end,” he insists.
But this optimism is immediately tempered by his reports from the front lines. Zelensky described a horrific aerial bomb attack on a hospital in Kharkiv that injured 57, drone strikes on energy facilities in Sumy, and the constant threat faced by Ukrainian civilians.
Zelensky’s strategy is to use the horror of the present to demand action towards his vision of the future. He has engaged President Trump directly and is coordinating with allies like Finland’s President Alex Stubb to build support for a new peace initiative.
The path from the grim present to the hopeful future, in Zelensky’s view, is paved with military aid. He argues that compelling Moscow to negotiate requires strength, and that strength comes from advanced air defense systems. His plea is for the tools to stop the “terror” so that the “momentum for peace” can take hold.