Trump’s calls to replace Zelenskyy ironically strengthen the Ukrainian leader’s position at home, opposition lawmaker Mykola Knyazhitskiy said.
“There’s no greater campaigner for Zelenskyy than Donald Trump,” he added. “After every such conflict, Zelenskyy’s approval rating rises both in Ukraine and among our allies, particularly in Europe.”
But Trump’s ability to force Kyiv into a settlement has diminished, according to Nathalie Tocci, who advised two former EU foreign policy chiefs. Having already withdrawn most American support, Trump has reduced his leverage over Ukraine and Europe, she argues. He could still inflict considerable damage by suspending intelligence sharing, but she doubts he would do so indefinitely or halt weapons sales. “If money is involved, I can’t see him pulling the plug on sales,” she said.
But the fear in Kyiv is that Trump’s pursuit of a deal with Moscow will come at Ukraine’s expense.
Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze, a prominent opposition lawmaker and former deputy prime minister, sees little prospect of Putin compromising. “He’s not ready to stop the war or even agree a ceasefire,” she said.
“From my understanding, all the other ‘deals’ which have supposedly been discussed by U.S. negotiators with the Russians have been only about the capitulation of Ukraine and basically the country ceasing to exist as a free, independent, sovereign state.”
That likely explains Zelenskyy’s open anger. He knows that antagonizing Trump comes at a price. But so does appeasing a U.S. president who seems increasingly willing to do business with Putin. For Ukraine, neither option is good.
