On Volodymyr Zelensky’s last visit to the White House, he brought a gift: a championship belt from one of Ukraine’s boxing legends. But talks collapsed before the gift-giving stage. This time, he brought a golf club from a wounded soldier and a letter from Olena Zelenska, Ukraine’s first lady, to Melania Trump. Donald Trump not only accepted them but reciprocated with symbolic ‘keys to the White House’. The exchange signalled that Trump, who once slammed the door on Ukraine, is now willing to listen, if the approach is right.

Just six months ago, Trump was ruling out any American role in guaranteeing peace in Ukraine. This week, such guarantees are at the centre of negotiations in Washington. Zelensky has offered to buy a $90 billion package of US weapons, funded by Europe, in exchange fo

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