There will be serious consequences. Four conclusions after Trump's collision and Zelenski
Something worse could hardly happen.
The visit of Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelenski to the White House had great potential. It could lead to a mineral resource deal to secure Ukraine and the United States, at least on paper, and to give President Donald Trump a greater incentive to support Kiev in his defense against the Russian attack.
She could bring some clarity about what security guarantees Washington was ready to offer Kiev in the event of a fire or peace agreement with Russia.
| If nothing else, the meeting could help Zelenski and Trump bury the tomahawk after exchanging criticism last week. |
Instead, the tomahawk came out again, sharper than ever. Zelenski left the White House prematurely. The mineral deal was left without a signature and the joint press conference was canceled.
Trump's outbreak is a culmination of annoyance and thinking can Zelenski be removed
This happened after the Ukrainian president was reprimanded by Trump and Vice President Jay Vance during a meeting in front of journalists in the oval office, which, according to many, was unprecedented.
The exchange of replicas not only raised doubts about the fate of the natural resource transaction. It also increased the huge uncertainty about the future of US assistance for Ukraine and the prospects for any agreement that would stop or end Russia's war in Ukraine.
Here are four conclusions from the catastrophic meeting.
Damage can be serious
The deal for the minerals that Trump and Zelenski had to sign is only a framework agreement, and according to analysts at this stage, its value is predominantly symbolic.
For the two presidents, this was a chance to announce diplomatic victories. For the Trump administration – a way to justify the previous and possibly future help to Ukraine after raising the question of whether it should continue.
Trump welcomes the draft assignment as an important step on the still slow path to peace in Ukraine. So whether it will eventually be signed and when it will say much about the chances of Kiev and Washington to work together for a potential termination of fire or peace agreement with Russia.
| Beyond the mineral agreement, however, the bigger question is whether the United States will move away from Ukraine. Such a scenario would, for example, be terminated or restricted military assistance that is still ongoing. |
This can also be shown by continuing efforts to agree with Russia to end the fire or peaceful plan for Ukraine, while abandoning Kiev.
The division can be long
The contested meeting in the oval office celebrated a new break in relationship between Trump and Zelenski. They have been deteriorating since 2019, shortly after the former presidential actor election in Kiev.
However, nothing is certain.
| It all happened just when it seemed that the damage caused by the previous exchange of criticism, in which Trump called Zelenski « dictator », and Zelenski said Trump succumbed to the propaganda of Russian President Vladimir Putin were repaired. |
Shortly before Zelenski's visit, in response to a question if he still considers the Ukrainian president a dictator, Trump replied: « Did I say it? I can't believe I said it. »
Stunned by the White House scandal, Ukrainians unite around Zelenski
And for Zelenski, the desire to secure further US assistance and the hope of security agreements, backed by US power, are unlikely to disappear regardless of what happened at the meeting.
So, despite the gap, there is a chance, although small, the wounds are healed.
The break between the US and Europe may deepen
The connections between the US and the majority of the European Union have been tense since the start of Trump's second term.
The differences are large in terms of policies against Ukraine and Russia, as well as in a number of other issues – from trade to liberal values.
This anxiety was emphasized when Vance attacked Europe in his speech at the Munich Security Conference on February 14th. He then said that internal processes in Europe pursued a greater threat to its condition than Russia, China or any other external factor.
French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Kir Starmer have outstripped Zelenski with visits to the White House this week. There, they tried to reduce the gap, especially with regard to the question of what to do with Russian aggression and the war in Ukraine.
If the meeting with Zelenski had passed successfully, it could also lead to greater unity between the US and Europe. But after a dispute in the oval office, which returned the transatlantic tensions, the opposite can happen, as many European leaders have expressed solidarity with Ukraine.
In a Ukrainian -language publication, European Commission President Ursula von der Layen called for Zelenski: « Be strong, be brave, be fearless » and assured him that « you will never be alone. »
Hit the chances of « fair peace »
When Zelenski and European leaders talk about « just and lasting peace », they mean peace that does not benefit Russia and does not weaken Ukraine. Peace that will not leave the country under the control of Moscow or vulnerable to future Russian attacks.
When he called Putin on February 12 and sent high-ranking staff to meet his Russian counterparts in Riyadh six days later, Trump did a few things. On the one hand, he interrupted the efforts of Biden's administration to isolate Moscow because of its invasion. On the other hand, the president ignited fears in Kiev and Brussels that Ukraine can be imposed a unilateral peace agreement.
If she had gone well, the Zelenski meeting with Trump could help distract these concerns. In support of this came the words of the Ukrainian president that it is important that Trump meets him before he meets Putin.
| However, the meeting did not go well at all and now all the concerns will be reinforced again. |
You have no trumps, you have to thank – full text of the Zelenski -Trump dispute
The « Analysis » section presents different perspectives, it is not necessarily the expressed opinions that they coincide with the editorial position of Dnevnik.
