Wars and peace

• The recent White House showdown between U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been both humiliating and disastrous.

• Zelenskyy’s questioning of U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance’s diplomacy push triggered a spat, leading to Trump stating Ukraine is not winning the war and Zelenskyy is being ungrateful to the U.S.

• Trump’s request for Zelenskyy to accept the deal he’s negotiating with Russia or face sanctions, threatening the U.S.’s cease-supply of weapons to Kyiv.

• Trump’s snub that Zelenskyy disrespected America and his willingness to return when ready for peace marked a breakdown in his relationship with Ukraine.

• Ukraine has become a pawn in the game between Russia and the U.S.-dominated North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), which it wanted to join.

• Despite U.S. and European support, Ukraine lacks a path towards victory.

• The return of Trump has ended the ‘as-long-as-it-takes’ policy, with the U.S. reluctant to provide security guarantees.

• Ukraine and Europe need to work with the Trump administration in negotiations with Russia.

• The U.S. should ensure Ukraine’s security concerns are adequately addressed in any final agreement with Russia.