Zelensky: We are counting on Middle East momentum to help end war with Russia

"We have a meeting planned with President Trump tomorrow and we are counting on the impulse to curb terror and war which worked in the Middle East to help end Russia's war against Ukraine," Zelensky wrote on the Telegram messaging app.

"The language of strength and justice is sure to work with respect to Russia as well."

Zelensky did not refer directly to Trump's agreement, in a telephone conversation on Thursday, to hold new talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

But he said it was clear that "upon hearing of Tomahawks, Moscow is in a hurry to renew dialogue", a reference to Trump's suggestion that he might provide Kyiv with those missiles.

Zelensky said he was meeting with representatives of defense companies, "manufacturers of powerful weapons that can definitely strengthen our defenses", including air defense systems to guard against attacks on energy infrastructure.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he believes that US President Donald Trump can secure peace in Ukraine using the same tactic he used in the Middle East in an interview with Fox News on Sunday.

"I think this Israel success, and of course it gives signals for us and hope that with such pressure, what President Trump used in Middle East to make peace, and I hope that he will use the same instruments, even more, to pressure [Russian President Vladimir] Putin to stop his war in Ukraine," Zelensky said.

However, the Ukrainian leader said that he believes Moscow is “exploiting” the attention around the Gaza ceasefire to heavily strike Ukraine. Zelensky reportedly discussed this with Trump and French President Macron on Sunday.

He also added that Ukraine would only use Tomahawk missiles to pursue military goals and not attack civilians in Russia. The Kremlin has recently said that if Kyiv were to receive these weapons, Moscow would consider it an escalation of the three-year-old war.