In a week filled with his usual controversial remarks, U.S. President Donald Trump left viewers shocked by labeling President Volodymyr Zelensky a “dictator” and assigning blame for Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine to the Ukrainian government.
These comments reflect a troubling escalation of antagonistic language towards Ukraine, increasingly mirroring established Kremlin narratives.
Alongside calling Zelensky a dictator, Trump has criticized him for failing to hold elections, repeating narratives from Moscow questioning the legitimacy of his presidency.
This rhetoric coincides with the White House’s ongoing efforts to end the war, which recently included a high-profile meeting in Saudi Arabia between U.S. and Russian representatives—without Ukrainian participation—raising concerns that a peace agreement could favor Moscow at Ukraine’s expense.
In Kyiv on February 19, public reactions to Trump’s recent remarks were readily apparent.
“It’s complete nonsense. I think he’s either an idiot, or he’s pretending to be one,” stated Yevhen, a charity fund employee, in an interview with the Kyiv Independent.
While direct, this comment raises an important question: Are Trump’s attacks on Zelensky and Ukraine mere outbursts, or is there a larger tactic involved?
Benjamin Tallis, director of the Democratic Strategy Initiative based in Berlin, shared his perspective with the Kyiv Independent, suggesting three potential strategies.
Firstly, he posits a strategy aimed at “warning the Europeans.”
“It suggests that they need to become tougher and more responsible, essentially signaling that the U.S. might abandon Europe,” he noted, although he added that this scenario seems increasingly doubtful given Trump’s affinity for Putin.
The second possibility is that the Trump administration views the broader geopolitical landscape, considers China the primary threat, and seeks to “drive a wedge between Russia and China to leverage Russia against China in global competition.”
“Ukrainians — and Zelensky personally — should absolutely not count on and not trust us now — this American administration is unpredictable, unreliable, and unhinged.”
However, this approach raises concerns as it seems illogical to engage such an unreliable ally as Russia when stronger and wealthier partners exist in Europe,” he explained.
This leads to the third option: that Trump has “aligned himself with the dictators and the anti-freedom coalition.”
“This is a nightmare scenario because it implies that if Europe is engaged in an existential struggle between free societies and autocracies, we are essentially left on our own,” Tallis concluded.
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Marci Shore, an author and Yale University professor specializing in European intellectual history, expressed a similarly grim outlook, stating, “we’re staring into a nihilist abyss.”
“There are no foundational principles, no values, only narcissism. Both Trump and Putin show a complete disregard for the lives of others — granting them significant freedom to act,” she remarked to the Kyiv Independent.
“Ukrainians — including Zelensky — should not rely on or trust this current U.S. administration — it is unpredictable, unreliable, and unhinged. This is true on both domestic and global fronts, and I express this as an American filled with shame and disgust.”
We consulted three Ukrainian political experts for their perspectives on navigating this delicate and consequential situation.
Dr. Volodymyr Dubovyk
Expert on U.S.-Ukrainian relations and head of Odesa National University's Center for International Studies
“I do not see this as any form of sophisticated strategy on Trump’s part—it is simply him being himself. His intolerance for opposition or obstacles is apparent.”
“Even a mild dissent from Zelensky can set him off, and only flattery tends to soothe him, which is not viable for Ukraine’s leader at this moment.”
“Moreover, there’s a negative historical context between Trump and Ukraine, compounded by advisors with little regard for the country. His initial attempts to appear balanced swiftly turned due to his inherent impulsiveness.”
“Zelensky is in a precarious position; he cannot ignore Trump’s insinuations, yet he must navigate the need to assert Ukraine’s interests in light of warming relations with Moscow. Balancing act is essential, as he aims to remain composed without crossing lines.”
“It would be prudent for President Zelensky to refrain from engaging in a cycle of tit-for-tat mockery and accusations.”
“Not every statement from Trump warrants retaliation.”
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Oleksandr Kraiev
Expert on North American policy at the foreign policy think tank Ukrainian Prism
When Zelensky and Trump first met in the U.S., he genuinely praised Trump.
Zelensky initially succeeded in connecting with Trump. It would be wise to return to that interpersonal strategy, reinforcing the friendship with Trump.
“Primarily, we should again emphasize a personal rapport, but in a positive manner. We should utilize Trump’s playbook to our advantage.”
Some may argue that this is a trivial approach, but if it secures arms, safety, and favorable arrangements for Ukraine, the means should not matter, provided they benefit the nation.
The second critical point is to avoid appearing weak. Trump will not engage with someone perceived as weak or on the verge of defeat.
It’s not solely about being amiable; it’s about establishing Ukraine as a strong partner Trump can count on in various aspects—economic, political, security, etc. We must strategically showcase our strengths, particularly in security and military capacities.
To succeed, Ukraine must capitalize on its advantages and engage consistently, ensuring a presence in Trump’s information sphere.
Professor Oleksiy Haran
Research advisor at the Democratic Initiatives Foundation
“Should Trump believe that Putin is ready for peace talks, the inflexible Russian position might provoke a backlash from the U.S., including from Trump himself.”
“Trump is known for changing his mind, especially on such issues.”
“Currently, he appears disappointed with Zelensky and is echoing Russian viewpoints, but it’s unpredictable how his stance may evolve in the coming months.”
“There’s potential for a shift in Trump’s approach; he may take a stronger line against Russia and be more receptive to Ukrainian perspectives. Predicting this is tricky, so we can only hope for the best.”
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