In less than twenty-four hours, the world has come to see the highest level of confrontation between the heads of the two countries—the powerful United States and a war-torn Ukraine. While there seems no winner at the moment between President Donald Trump and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in terms of who got the best of deals, the United States from its inward-looking focus may have just conveyed in the strong words—a logical conclusion is needed and any support is transactional.
From two gruesome wars until now, where multiple actors were involved, not a single war has come to a stop without a multiparty consensus. What happened in the Oval Office, was a clear indication of multiparty having a divided understanding of the War in Ukraine.
Unsurprisingly, Trump minced no words that he is putting his interests first. That’s been his entire focus since he won the election. He spoke of the deal with Ukraine much in the open.
What Zelenskyy wants is security guarantees but while being in Washington DC, all Zelenskyy needed was a fair reading of the room. As a host, Trump seemed fair…but a short-sighted party was all up in arms to get what was needed.
Not long ago, many were sceptical of the Modi-Trump Summit, especially on the issue of immigration and tariffs. But Delhi made wise calls by evolving with a new normal, at the same time strongly getting transactional in whatever way it could. This comparison may seem a bit unfair but the point of view here is—reading the room.
Also read: Zelenskyy has made a big blunder at White House. Why then will Russia and Ukraine laugh
No free lunches
Zelenskyy may have just made the biggest blunder by turning a shoulder on America despite knowing Trump has mastered the Art of Deal.
Now there will be two laughs. First goes to President Vladimir Putin, he has seen the first wall of victory being built. He may just have the most powerful country on its side—America.
The second laugh, but in agony, from the Ukrainians who might now question the legitimacy of their President who has neither faced the elections recently nor shown signs of it. Certainly, the war stands as a challenge but look at Zelenskyy’s recent ratings—marred with ebbs and flows.
If the collective democratic world is one for Ukraine, it will also have think of the democracy being fairly represented, even in Ukraine. Maybe the new voices will see the war differently or think of bringing it to a conclusion by bringing President Putin to the table. Not that everything that Russia has been able to achieve in this war has been without loss.
That said, Zelenskyy was bold in standing up against a superpower knowing bigger stakes needed bigger bargains and he seemingly fell flat on that front. But there are no free lunches.
However, with new equations emerging, Europe may have the biggest responsibility to come clear on support, including monetary, to bring this war to a conclusion. This might mean that the European Union has a new security role to play.
Rishi Gupta is the Assistant Director of the Asia Society Policy Institute, New Delhi. He writes on the Asia-Pacific affairs, strategic Himalayas, and South Asian geopolitics. He tweets @RishiGupta_JNU. Views are personal.
Is this writer suggesting, Zelenskey should have agreed to the unfair deal on minerals without any guarranty from USA?
He must consult his European leaders & his own people.
A childish headline on a silly argument.
A completely wrong approach is suggestef in this article. Trump is a bully. The way Trump and J D Vance berated Zelensky, it would have been completely abnonormal if Zelensky did not respond the way he did. And the author is really foolish to suggest that India’s dealing with Trump when Modi visited there is good, because it was the most cowardice thing. Modi and India were mocked, insulted, forced to buy useless F35 during the trip and Modi meekly accepted everything. This visit is the worst failure of India’s foreign policy.
Zelensky has been played by the European Union. The EU leaders egged him on to fight the Russians instead of seeking a diplomatic solution. Once the war started, EU turned to the USA for help. It became clear that the EU had neither the financial nor the military strength to take on the mighty Russians. All along, the EU had been bluffing – thanks to the NATO alliance with USA. Now that the war had started, EU thought the Americans would be rushing in to help “liberate” Ukraine – just like they did in WW-II.
Unfortunately for the EU, President Trump had seen through the trickery and mischief-mongering of the EU nations during his first tenure. The American taxpayer has wisened over the years and now, refuses to shoulder the financial burden of the Ukraine war. Neither is the US willing to risk it’s soldiers in the conflict.
Having made tall promises to Zelensky, the EU nations must now walk the talk. They should fund the war effort out of their own tax collections and also send their own troops to the frontline to fight the Russians. The world will now get to know exactly how strong the EU nations (all of them loudmouths) are.
There is nothing bold about his performance. Two giant egos clashing. But Zelensky doesn’t hold any cards. And he made the mistake of subtly threatening Trump.
As for the EU, what role can they play? Their economy is sinking, manufacturing is declining, and can barely muster up a fighting force. They are wholly dependent on the US.
If the EU decides to go all in on Project Ukraine then that will be the end of both groups. And whatever remains of the EU afterwards will be picked apart by the US and China (economic wise).