Whirling in the wind

• Volodymyr Zelenskyy, a Ukrainian President, was praised for his leadership in the fight against Russia’s invasion.
• He was welcomed with heroism in Washington DC, with both Biden administration officials and lawmakers supporting Ukraine.
• Zelenskyy was compared to Winston Churchill, the British wartime Prime Minister, and was hailed as a “modern Churchill.”
• In February 2022, Zelenskyy signed a minerals deal with the U.S., a move that sparked a public spat between the two Presidents.
• Zelenskyy’s rise to prominence was attributed to his success as an actor and comedian, and his role as the fictional president of Ukraine in the TV show, Servant of the People.

Zelenskyy’s Political Challenges and the Trump Administration’s Approach

Political Challenges and Success
• Zelenskyy won the 2019 presidential election with 73.23%, promising to fight corruption, reform the system, and make peace with Russia.
• He faced an unenviable position due to Russia’s annexation of Crimea five years prior, leading to a separatist civil war in Ukraine’s east.

Invasion of Ukraine
• Zelenskyy announced a preliminary deal with separatists backed by Russia, and declared a formal ceasefire in 2020.
• However, the fighting in Donbas continued, with hard-right nationalists rejecting the deal, while Russia continued to support separatists.
• In September 2020, Zelenskyy unveiled a new national security strategy, calling Russia an ‘aggressor’ and identifying NATO membership as Ukraine’s key defense and foreign policy objective.

Fall from Grace
• Zelenskyy became a hero in the West for standing up against Russia.
• In March 2022, the Russians and Ukrainians were close to signing an agreement, but Ukraine chose to fight on.
• Zelenskyy vowed to liberate all territories captured by Russia, including Crimea.

The Trump Administration’s New Agenda
• The Trump administration’s focus on a direct deal with Russia left Zelenskyy in the cold, losing over 20% of his country’s territory, preventing Ukraine from becoming a NATO member, and demanding a share of Ukraine’s natural resources.
• President Trump now views Zelenskyy as an impediment to peace, stating he can return when he is ready for peace.