ISTANBUL — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed profound gratitude to U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday for his pivotal role in securing a groundbreaking ceasefire in the Middle East, while revealing details of a "very productive" phone conversation that underscored America's commitment to bolstering Ukraine's air defenses against relentless Russian aggression. In a separate call with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Zelenskyy delved into urgent measures to fortify Ukraine's battered energy infrastructure, praising Ottawa's contributions to NATO's innovative Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) initiative and pledging deeper collaboration within the expanding Coalition of the Willing. These diplomatic overtures come at a critical juncture, as Russia intensifies its aerial campaign on Ukraine's power grid, leaving thousands in darkness and raising alarms about the nation's ability to withstand a harsh winter.
Zelenskyy's Telegram post, timestamped late Saturday, painted a picture of renewed hope amid the grinding stalemate of Russia's 1,341-day invasion. "We shared details of our contacts with President Trump. I informed him about the situation on the battlefield and Russia’s vile strikes on our energy infrastructure and people," the Ukrainian leader wrote, emphasizing the human toll of Moscow's tactics. "We discussed specific steps that can help us defend against this and strengthen the resilience of our energy system." The conversation, confirmed by a White House official as occurring earlier that day, marked a notable thaw in relations between the two leaders, who had clashed publicly earlier in the year during a tense White House meeting in February that devolved into accusations of disrespect and threats of withheld aid.
The call's timing could not have been more poignant. Just days prior, on October 9, Trump had announced the first phase of a historic ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, a deal hailed as an "outstanding achievement" by Zelenskyy. Brokered through intense U.S.-led negotiations involving Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey, the agreement—part of Trump's ambitious 20-point peace plan unveiled on September 29—envisions an immediate halt to hostilities, the release of all 48 remaining Israeli and foreign hostages held by Hamas, and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from 53% of Gaza territory. In exchange, Israel would free hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, with provisions for unrestricted humanitarian aid, including the rehabilitation of water, electricity, and sewage systems ravaged by nearly two years of conflict. The deal, which took effect at noon local time on October 10, has already seen crowds celebrating in Israeli streets and Palestinians streaming north from southern Gaza, though thorny issues like Gaza's long-term governance and demilitarization loom large in subsequent phases.
During their discussion, Zelenskyy congratulated Trump on the breakthrough, drawing a direct parallel to Ukraine's plight. "I congratulated President Trump on the success and the deal for the Middle East that he actually secured, and (said) that is a strong result. And if it is possible to stop the war in that region, surely other wars can be stopped, including this Russian war," Zelenskyy recounted. He urged Trump to apply similar diplomatic muscle to Kyiv's defense, briefing him on the latest Russian barrages that have systematically targeted Ukraine's energy sector. "There are good options, strong ideas on how to really strengthen us," Zelenskyy added, alluding to U.S. pledges for enhanced air defense systems like Patriot missiles. Trump, in a post-call statement echoed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Adviser Michael Waltz, reaffirmed Washington's "enduring commitment," noting ongoing coordination with European allies to align support amid battlefield shifts in areas like Kursk.
The backdrop to these exchanges is an escalating Russian offensive on Ukraine's power grid, designed to sow chaos as temperatures drop. Over the past week alone, Moscow has unleashed more than 26 strikes on energy facilities across regions including Sumy, Chernihiv, Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, Odesa, and Poltava, according to Ukraine's Energy Minister Svitlana Hrynchuk. On October 10, a massive overnight assault involving hundreds of drones and missiles plunged large swaths of Kyiv into blackout, damaged residential buildings, and severed water supplies, wounding at least 20 people and killing a seven-year-old boy in Brovary. Earlier attacks on October 5 left five dead in Lviv and tens of thousands without power in Zaporizhzhia, with Naftogaz reporting critical hits to gas infrastructure essential for heating. These barrages have obliterated over half of Ukraine's domestic natural gas production, forcing Kyiv to plan a 30% surge in imports—costing an estimated €1.9 billion ($2.2 billion)—to avert a humanitarian crisis this winter.
Zelenskyy framed these assaults as "vile" attempts to demoralize civilians, targeting not just power plants but hospitals and homes. In Sumy Oblast, a drone strike ignited a fire at a maternity ward sheltering 11 children, 35 patients, and 120 staff. Hrynchuk, in meetings with G7 ambassadors, pleaded for more air defense batteries, electronic warfare tools, and spare equipment, warning that 203 key facilities remain vulnerable. "Russia’s goal is logistical terrorism," she said, echoing Zelenskyy's call for Russia to "participate in genuine diplomacy" rather than escalation. Ukrainian forces have retaliated with drone swarms like Liutyi and Fire Point—up to 300 in a single operation—striking Russian energy sites, while Neptune and Flamingo missiles have further strained Moscow's fuel supplies, contributing to reported shortages and higher imports in Russia.
Amid this strain, Zelenskyy's dialogue with Carney offered a glimmer of multilateral solidarity. The two leaders, speaking by phone on Saturday, condemned the attacks in tandem and mapped out "concrete steps" for energy fortification. Carney's office readout highlighted Canada's coordination on gas supplies for winter and fresh opportunities to shield infrastructure, including through the acquisition of a PURL package of U.S. military gear to enhance air defenses. Launched in July 2025 following an agreement between NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and Trump, PURL streamlines allied aid by pooling funds—typically $500 million per package—from European nations and Canada to procure prioritized U.S. stockpiles like munitions and Patriot systems. Canada pledged its tranche in August, following the Netherlands' inaugural contribution and a joint Nordic package from Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, totaling over $1 billion to date. The first deliveries arrived in Ukraine on September 18, a milestone Rutte hailed as "concrete support on the ground."
Zelenskyy lauded Canada's "significant contribution" to PURL, urging expansion, and stressed potential for broader involvement. "There is potential to expand its involvement in the program," he noted, tying it to joint efforts in the Coalition of the Willing. This 33-nation alliance, spearheaded by Britain and France since March 2025, transcends the Ukraine Defense Contact Group by committing members—including the UK, France, Canada, Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, Finland, Poland, Germany, Italy, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand—to peacekeeping roles post-ceasefire. Formed at the London Summit on March 2 and solidified in Paris on September 4, the coalition pledges troops or logistics for a "reassurance force" in non-combat zones, alongside robust security guarantees. Leaders like Macron declared it "ready" for deployment, contingent on U.S. backing, with plans to consolidate Ukraine's military and deter Russian revanchism. Zelenskyy and Carney "coordinated our next steps" within this framework, vowing to amplify its "practical side" through sanctions and financial pressure at the upcoming G7 Finance Ministers' meeting in Washington.
The duo also touched on the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children, co-convened by Canada and Ukraine at the UN General Assembly in September, underscoring a humanitarian dimension to their partnership. Carney, a former Bank of England governor turned premier, reiterated Ottawa's "readiness to work substantively across all areas," a stance Zelenskyy reciprocated with thanks for Canada's unwavering support since the invasion's outset.
These calls reflect a broader pivot in Western strategy: leveraging Trump's Middle East triumph to galvanize Ukraine aid while countering Russia's winter warfare playbook. Analysts note the irony—Trump's February spat with Zelenskyy, where he threatened to pull support unless Kyiv capitulated to Moscow, has evolved into pragmatic alignment, buoyed by the U.S. president's deal-making prowess. Yet challenges persist. Russia's SVR intelligence service has accused the UK of plotting false-flag operations to frame Moscow, heightening tensions, while Putin's claims of "strategic initiative" mask heavy losses—over 90,000 troops in 2025 alone.
As Zelenskyy prepares for potential trilateral talks involving Trump and Putin—echoing Zelenskyy's Nobel nomination pledge for Trump if he brokers a Ukraine ceasefire—these engagements signal resolve. "The practical side of this format will be strengthened," Zelenskyy affirmed of the Coalition. In Istanbul for backchannel diplomacy, he embodies Ukraine's unyielding spirit: diplomacy not as surrender, but as fortified defense. With winter looming and grids flickering, the world watches whether Trump's "strong result" in Gaza can illuminate a path to peace in Europe's bloodiest theater since 1945.
