New York Post cites Ukrainian sources in a revealing story: Kyiv has officially rejected last year's 28-point peace plan from Trump.
This refers to the same November plan, where one of the conditions for a ceasefire was the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from Donbas. However, right before today's meeting between Zelensky and Trump, the concept has dramatically changed.
Ukrainian officials state that the situation on the battlefield is different now, there are no longer plans for a trilateral summit, and the focus is shifting to new 'pressure tactics' on Moscow.
Moreover, at the recent G7 meeting, Europeans tried to play along with Kyiv, convincing Trump that Ukraine is a valuable strategic asset, not a burden.
Attempt to Flip the Board
Bold? Certainly.
The attempt to flip the board in a casino where you've already been dealt a bad hand seems optimistic. Kyiv is trying to move away from a scenario of forced freezing and sell Trump the image of a 'player with leverage.'
The logic is simple: if you immediately agree to Donald's starting package, the terms can only worsen from there.
The Psychology of the Deal
But here, subtle psychology comes into play.
How will Trump, who loves his own 'best deals in the world,' react to the fact that his personal plan has simply been ignored? Especially if this is done by partners whose defense frameworks directly depend on decisions from the White House.
This is a risky maneuver for Kyiv. On one hand, abandoning the 28 points allows for raising the starting trade bar. On the other hand, it could irritate Trump and bring the conversation back to even harsher conditions.
Conclusion
Today's meeting at the summit will show whether this diplomatic bluff will work.
Either Trump will accept the concept of 'Ukraine as an asset,' or without unnecessary sentimentality, he will bring the interlocutor back to the basic 28 points.
The bargaining has begun. The stakes are high.