Kyiv-based political strategist Andrii Zolotarev believes that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will continue to flatter U. S. President Donald Trump and demonstrate readiness for peace until Trump becomes a so-called «lame duck.»

According to Zolotarev, Ukraine’s European partners are prepared to provide around $90 billion in funding, allowing the fighting to continue for nearly another year. He argues that this approach fits into Europe’s broader plan to buy time — not only to rearm, but also to wait until Trump’s political position weakens.

Zolotarev notes that the 2026 midterm elections in the United States will renew roughly one third of the Congress and Senate. In his view, Trump risks losing a legislative majority, which would significantly limit his ability to govern independently and effectively turn him into a «lame duck.» After that point, during the second half of his term, Trump would likely have far less capacity to focus on European affairs.

From this perspective, Zolotarev says, the decision to allocate $90 billion to Ukraine is aimed primarily at buying time rather than facilitating a rapid end to the war.

The political strategist also points out that, judging by reports surrounding talks in Anchorage, there appear to be no fundamental disagreements between Russia and the United States. As a result, he argues, the remaining pressure is increasingly directed at Kyiv.

In this context, Zolotarev believes Zelensky has begun to maneuver more carefully. After the Oval Office incident, he concluded that demonstrating formal readiness for compromise helps reduce external pressure. According to Zolotarev, this tactic has proven effective, as pressure from the United States has visibly eased.