Kyiv, Ukraine – The president of Ukraine has few options after last week Amazing oval office row With the president of the United States, Donald Trump, who rebuked the war leader. Now the future of Ukraine could depend on whether Volodymyr Zelenskyy You can repair your relationship with the White House.
He conversation with heating that was developed live on television especially American support for Ukraine and could shape the country’s war against Russian invasion. The scene will surely stay with Zelenskyy for the rest of his presidency, if not with his life.
American officials have said that they want an apology from Zelenskyy, who has kept his calm in public appearances from the episode and leaned down in European support while rejected calls from US officials to resign. He has even expressed optimism about continuous American support.
As European partners join around Zelenskyy, Western officials in kyiv recognize that the durability of any peace plan will depend on the military support of the United States.
Zelenskyy has said that he is still ready to sign A lucrative mineral agreement With Trump, that could be the first step towards a high fire. Since Friday’s confrontation, there has been communication between Ukraine and the Administration, but not between the two presidents.
Meanwhile, Trump is scheduled To address Congress On Tuesday with a speech that will offer you the opportunity to describe your vision to end the war.
“I am sure that this situation will happen, and there are more important things ahead. And if we all remain constructive, then, I think, we will have a positive result, ”Zelenskyy told journalists on Sunday after A meeting of European leaders In London. “Positive, if my understanding here is correct, positive is when we are approaching peace for Ukraine, all of us.”
Sign the agreement with the Trump administration For a part of the natural resources of Ukraine He would have raided the way for more agreements on the future of US military aid and the terms of an armistice with Russia. Now all that is uncertain.
Oleksandr Kraiev, analyst of the group of experts of the foreign policy of prism prism, based in kyiv, said that the first step to save relations between the United States and Ukraine is “to restore personal contacts with the people of Trump and with Trump himself”, although “it will be difficult psychologically.”
“Yes, the situation is quite serious. We see a lot of bad prognosis, ”he said. “It is not an apocalyptic scenario for us. Relationships can be restored, not because Ukrainian diplomacy is much higher or because Zelenskyy is a great communicator, but because there is still an economic interest for Trump here in Ukraine. “
“As for saving the relationship,” Zelenskyy told reporters during the weekend: “I think our relationship (with the United States) will continue because it is more than a relationship of one moment or another. We have to be open.”
Ukraine is “ready to continue dialogue,” he said. “We want to have a new help.”
American officials have asked Zelenskyy to express gratitude for the support of the United States, something that the Ukrainian President has made regularly since the large -scale invasion began at the beginning of 2022.
“The United States is a democracy. The president is not the only power. Congress matters. Voters matter. Media and public opinion. We should work with them, ”said Ukrainian legislator Oleksandr Merezhko.
Europe has entered the gap left by the deep crack of Ukraine-US. But a high fire plan created by European powers will still require that the support of the United States be effective.
“Everything is not lost. There is the possibility that an agreement can still be made, but it is much less likely than it was, “said Ben Barry, a military expert from the International Institute for Strategic Studies.
A French-British plan for deploy European contingents in Ukraine “It should include the presence of the United States of America in one way or another,” said Zelenskyy, adding that the United States could contribute to the support of air, land or intelligence.
Increasing support to Ukraine in case the United States withdraws would be a great cost to the continent, said Barry.
Europe could provide weapons and ammunition directly to Ukraine and could put European defense and industry on a war footing, he said. “That would cost Europe a lot of money. If you have the political resolution to do that, we would see. “
Zelenskyy has rejected the renunciation calls of some US officials, saying that only the Ukrainian people can decide who directs them.
In the midst of criticism, there are no signs in Ukraine of public discussion about the resignation of Zelenskyy.
“If Zelensky had behaved differently or if there had been an interpreter, of course, it would have been a slightly different story,” said Oleksandr Khara, director of the Defense Strategies Center.
But David Novak, a 23 -year -old Ukrainian chef, said what most of the Ukrainians were thinking. He said he was “shocked” for the exchange of the Oval office and said he understood that Zelenskyy “is doing everything possible and is enduring.”
In Ukraine, the White House explosion caused another wave of unity, since many in the country interpreted Trump’s comments and vice president JD Vance as a personal affront, while Zelenskyy expressed a widely shared opinion among the Ukrainians, which Russia cannot be trusted in maintaining the promises of high fire.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs published a selection of photos on Instagram of Ukrainians with military fatigue, medical thickets soaked with blood and fire extinguishing equipment, all the symbols of the war, with the slogan “Ukrainians have their costumes.” The campaign is in response to a question raised for Zelenskyy in the Oval office about why he didn’t wear a suit.
In response to the call of the US senator. Lindsay Graham that he resigned, Zelenskyy told reporters: “I can give citizenship (Lindsay Graham) in Ukraine and will become a citizen of our country. And then his voice will begin to gain weight, and I will listen to him as a citizen of Ukraine on the issue of who should be the president. “
