Volodymyr Zelenskyy Meets Donald Trump — Great Triumph for Vladimir Putin*
Published in Rzeczpospolita
(Poland) on 28 February 2025
by Jędrzej Bielecki (link to original)
(Poland) on 28 February 2025
by Jędrzej Bielecki (link to original)
Translated from
by Danuta Kowalska.
Edited by Michelle Bisson.
The Kremlin is celebrating. After many years of effort, Russia managed to break the alliance between Ukraine and its greatest ally, the U.S.
Looking at the meeting of Donald Trump, Volodymyr Zelenskyy and JD Vance covered by the press on Friday, one could get the impression that the spirit of one more person was hovering over those gathered in the Oval Office — Vladimir Putin. And that he was speaking through the mouth of the American president.
“You're playing with World War III,” Trump yelled at the Ukrainian leader. “You don't have the cards here, without us, you don't have the cards. You’re either going to make a deal or we’re out,” Trump continued, with an expression of fury on his face.
Putin has repeatedly threatened World War III because of the war in Ukraine. Now Trump has said the same thing.
These are Putin's well-known theses. He has repeatedly resorted to the threat of nuclear war to deter Ukraine's Western allies. He has been hiding the truth about the progress of the war, where, despite nearly a million dead and seriously wounded soldiers, Russia is advancing at a snail's pace. And he claimed that this is not a confrontation between Russia and Ukraine, which is fighting for its freedom and independence, but a clash between Moscow and all the NATO nations.
Trump, Putin's Best Friend
The New York Times reported that a U.S. president has never treated a foreign leader, especially an ally, this way in all of American history. The American press reported that Zelenskyy was later asked to leave the Oval Office. Trump issued a statement saying the American people were offended.
It shows where Trump's America, a country that has led the free world for decades, stands now. Today, it considers itself humiliated because a country desperately fighting for its freedom does not want to lay down its arms. Zelenskyy revealed that the emperor has no clothes. He showed Trump for who he really is.
Trump Practically Proposes that Ukraine Surrender
Now, Ukraine's only hope lies with its own fighting army. But also Europe, which is set to present a plan to support Ukraine at a summit in London on Sunday. However, this doesn't mean peace but that the war continues because, as Zelenskyy himself said — a conciliatory mission of Europeans without the support of the Americans is not possible. The Europeans alone cannot guarantee security for Ukraine. According to Polish Foreign Affairs Minister Radosław Sikorski, Kyiv can survive under current conditions at least until the end of the year. And what will happen then, we do not know.
But did Zelenskyy have a choice? He became emotional when he was provoked by scandalous remarks, in particular from Vice President Vance. But he remained consistent with the course he chose from the start. Kyiv cannot agree to a cease-fire without the U.S. security guarantees because it will only give Putin time to regroup and attack again. And perhaps, if the Americans agree, it might allow for the surrender of Ukraine without a fight, as part of a deal between Washington and Moscow. Zelenskyy, with good reason, decided that war is better than peace on Trump's terms — which means surrender.
*Editor’s Note: This article is available in its original language with a paid subscription.
Looking at the meeting of Donald Trump, Volodymyr Zelenskyy and JD Vance covered by the press on Friday, one could get the impression that the spirit of one more person was hovering over those gathered in the Oval Office — Vladimir Putin. And that he was speaking through the mouth of the American president.
“You're playing with World War III,” Trump yelled at the Ukrainian leader. “You don't have the cards here, without us, you don't have the cards. You’re either going to make a deal or we’re out,” Trump continued, with an expression of fury on his face.
Putin has repeatedly threatened World War III because of the war in Ukraine. Now Trump has said the same thing.
These are Putin's well-known theses. He has repeatedly resorted to the threat of nuclear war to deter Ukraine's Western allies. He has been hiding the truth about the progress of the war, where, despite nearly a million dead and seriously wounded soldiers, Russia is advancing at a snail's pace. And he claimed that this is not a confrontation between Russia and Ukraine, which is fighting for its freedom and independence, but a clash between Moscow and all the NATO nations.
Trump, Putin's Best Friend
The New York Times reported that a U.S. president has never treated a foreign leader, especially an ally, this way in all of American history. The American press reported that Zelenskyy was later asked to leave the Oval Office. Trump issued a statement saying the American people were offended.
It shows where Trump's America, a country that has led the free world for decades, stands now. Today, it considers itself humiliated because a country desperately fighting for its freedom does not want to lay down its arms. Zelenskyy revealed that the emperor has no clothes. He showed Trump for who he really is.
Trump Practically Proposes that Ukraine Surrender
Now, Ukraine's only hope lies with its own fighting army. But also Europe, which is set to present a plan to support Ukraine at a summit in London on Sunday. However, this doesn't mean peace but that the war continues because, as Zelenskyy himself said — a conciliatory mission of Europeans without the support of the Americans is not possible. The Europeans alone cannot guarantee security for Ukraine. According to Polish Foreign Affairs Minister Radosław Sikorski, Kyiv can survive under current conditions at least until the end of the year. And what will happen then, we do not know.
But did Zelenskyy have a choice? He became emotional when he was provoked by scandalous remarks, in particular from Vice President Vance. But he remained consistent with the course he chose from the start. Kyiv cannot agree to a cease-fire without the U.S. security guarantees because it will only give Putin time to regroup and attack again. And perhaps, if the Americans agree, it might allow for the surrender of Ukraine without a fight, as part of a deal between Washington and Moscow. Zelenskyy, with good reason, decided that war is better than peace on Trump's terms — which means surrender.
*Editor’s Note: This article is available in its original language with a paid subscription.
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