Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy is hoping his country can lean on its own grit, Europe’s teamwork, and some good old American common sense as things get shaky with the U.S., their big ally. Why shaky?
Well, new U.S. President Donald Trump stirred the pot on Wednesday, calling Zelenskiy a “dictator who skips elections” and warning him to cut a deal fast or lose Ukraine.
That’s wild talk from a U.S. leader—for most of the past three years, since Russia’s war kicked off, America’s been Kyiv’s cheerleader.
Trump’s pushing hard for a quick end to the war, and it’s got Europe nervous. Reuters says he’s even chatting with Russia without looping in Ukraine or its European buddies—imagine your best friend making plans about your house without asking you! Plus, he’s hinted Ukraine’s partly to blame for Russia invading in 2022, which has jaws dropping. Over in Europe, leaders are stepping up, promising more defense cash.
Some are even floating a U.S.-backed idea of European peacekeepers in Ukraine. Russia’s not thrilled about that, per Reuters, but Zelenskiy’s all for it.
“We’re tough, and I’m betting on Ukraine sticking together, Europe having our back, and America playing smart,” Zelenskiy said in a video to his people late Wednesday.
“America wants a win here as much as we do.” This drama’s heating up just as Keith Kellogg, Trump’s pick for Russia-Ukraine talks, lands in Kyiv. Zelenskiy’s meeting him Thursday and wants it to go smoothly—constructive vibes only, please.
Trump’s got big ideas: cozying up to Russia again and tapping Ukraine’s mineral riches for green energy stuff.
Reuters heard from two insiders that a simpler minerals deal might be in the works after Ukraine nixed an earlier U.S. plan—no security promises, no dice. Meanwhile, Kellogg’s in town saying he’s there to listen, not dictate.
Zelenskiy’s juggling all this while firing back at Trump’s “dictator” jab, saying it’s just Russian rumors recycled. Still, he’s keeping it cool, dreaming of peace with Europe and America’s help—“a future without Putin,” he said. European leaders, like Greece’s Kyriakos Mitsotakis, are scrambling to adjust to America’s curveball, per Reuters. Mitsotakis told Canada on Wednesday they’ve got to move fast now.
Russia’s still hammering Ukraine—cities trashed, front lines crawling forward across 600 miles. They hold a fifth of the country and want more. Kyiv’s worried a ceasefire would just let Russia reload, though one Ukrainian intel boss thinks a shaky truce might happen this year.
So why’s Trump calling Zelenskiy a dictator? Ukraine’s under martial law since Russia rolled in on February 24, 2022—no elections allowed.
Zelenskiy’s term should’ve ended last May, but he’s still running the show. Trump’s not wrong about no votes, but Ukraine’s opposition mostly has his back here.
Ex-PM Yulia Tymoshenko said it’s “impossible and immoral” to hold elections now—soldiers can’t exactly hit the polls. “Only Ukrainians decide who leads us,” she posted on Facebook, a line Reuters flagged.
Valeriy Zaluzhnyi, a popular ex-general now ambassador in London, agrees: beat Russia first, vote later. But not everyone’s on board.
Petro Poroshenko, a former president and Zelenskiy rival, hasn’t jumped in this time—maybe because the government just slapped sanctions on him, which he called a unity killer.
His party’s Iryna Herashchenko wants Zelenskiy to ease up on rivals and build a united front. Even Serhii Prytula, a charity bigwig and maybe future candidate, chimed in on X: “Don’t let Trump’s words ruin your sleep—Ukraine decides who’s boss here.”
It’s a mess, but Zelenskiy’s playing peacemaker while Trump’s throwing curveballs. Reuters has been all over this, tracking the twists—guess we’ll see if unity or chaos wins out.
Credit : Reuters