KYIV

LONG FEARFUL OF what a Donald Trump presidency would mean for their chances of victory in the war with Russia, Ukrainians are now hoping the MAGA Man will be able to end the war on half-reasonable terms for them.

“They’re hanging on now, on all fronts,” says Ulrich Hasselbruiser, a human rights lawyer from Paraguay. “The hope is that with Trump pushing for peace, the Ukrainian possession of a small area of Russia in the Kursk Oblast will allow Kyiv leverage its position at the negotiation table. Assuming the Ukrainians are even allowed at the table. Zelenskyy’s been indicating his willingness to concede territory for months now – the NATO membership in exchange idea is a chip he knows he cannot play without NATO’s co-operation, but it makes him look tough and he knows he can blame NATO for any failure to accept Ukraine as a member, which is likely. Ukraine is on the back foot, has been for months, despite the propaganda. NATO is not willing to do what would be required to defeat Russia. Bad memories from eighty years ago still prevail. Trump wants this over. Putin would like to sell some kind of success to his public. Two words to remember: sordid deal.”