The wisdom of President Volodymyr Zelensky’s choice to mend ties with US President Donald Trump is viewed differently by various opinions in Ukraine.
“It’s a terrible decision,” stated blogger and military serviceman Yuriy Kasyanov, who believes that the US “won’t provide any assistance” to Ukraine once the mineral agreement is finalized.
“The president acted with dignity,” remarked former MP Boryslav Bereza, describing Zelensky’s gentler tone as an “apology.”
Last night, Ukraine’s leader delivered his evening address from the courtyard of Kyiv’s Presidential Office—the same location where he made the iconic “we are all here” speech alongside his cabinet on the second day of Russia’s invasion.
At that time, he had rejected offers to flee as many in the West anticipated that Russian troops would capture the capital within days, possibly leading to his capture or death.
Three years later, it appears that his choice to continue fighting has been gradually taken from him.
He expressed his readiness to operate under Trump’s “strong leadership” and asserted that it was “time to set things right.”
The hostile rhetoric from Washington, that Oval Office meeting, and the temporary halt of US military aid have compelled him to acquiesce to Trump’s vision for peace.
Until last week, Zelensky maintained that Ukraine would only pursue peace if its security was assured; otherwise, it would continue to combat.
He also accused Trump of existing in a “disinformation space” after the US president echoed some of Moscow’s assertions.
This culminated in a heated exchange last Friday with Trump and US Vice-President JD Vance, who reproached Zelensky for “disrespecting” the US and ultimately instructed him to leave.
The Ukrainian president received a warmer welcome from European leaders over the weekend; however, while they pledged future support for Ukraine’s security, they clarified that peace would still necessitate US involvement.
Then, on Tuesday, Trump suspended US military assistance to Ukraine, raising alarms that it might only be able to endure for a few months—thus forcing Zelensky to adapt to the reality of the situation.
In a letter to the US president, he even outlined specifics for the initial phase of a peace process, including proposals for a naval and aerial ceasefire—ideas initially proposed by France’s President Emmanuel Macron over the weekend.
Trump expressed appreciation for the letter, indicating a possible thaw in relations between the two leaders, and claimed that Zelensky had consented to pursue a peace agreement.
Notably, Zelensky now seems willing to proceed with a mineral deal without the security assurances he previously deemed essential.
The US has proposed that having American companies involved in extracting natural resources would be sufficient to deter Russia from violating a ceasefire. However, American investments didn’t effectively prevent Moscow from launching its full-scale invasion.
Even more revealing is the apparent lack of concessions Russia would need to make in any peace negotiations.
Perhaps Zelensky has exhausted his political leverage, and with his European allies recognizing their reliance on the US, Washington appears to be his only viable option.
