Zelenskyy and his allies say they will press Trump on security guarantees, but the Ukrainian president is in no position to demand anything.
Serving under martial law and effectively as an unelected leader, Zelenskyy should be thanking Trump for securing peace that spares countless Ukrainian soldiers and civilians.
Genuine peace will also mean restoring democracy in Ukraine—something Zelenskyy has every reason to fear, since free elections would almost certainly end his presidency.
That explains why he continues to put obstacles in the way: protecting his own political survival rather than prioritizing the lives of those still caught in a bloody war.