Trump Signals New Leeway for Zelenskyy as He Seeks a Putin Deal

President Donald Trump has shown a warmer stance toward Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy—praising him after a NATO meeting and backing Ukraine's bid to produce Patriot missiles—as part of a broader, tentative GOP tilt toward Kyiv. Analysts say the shift could be a strategic push to pressure Vladimir Putin toward a negotiated end to the war, while others caution it may reflect hedging rather than a full realignment. The move comes amid debates over aid pace, sanctions, and whether Trump is seeking a tangible foreign‑policy win as tensions with Iran persist.