Trump's attack on Zelenskyy leaves him with few options

Shifting Ground

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Donald Trump's turn against Volodymyr Zelenskyy leaves Ukraine no good alternatives as it heads into the fourth year of Russia's full-scale invasion.

The Ukrainian president can try to fight on against Kremlin forces without the backing of the country that had been its chief ally and arms supplier, relying instead on what assistance Europe can offer. Or he can accept whatever deal Trump may reach in his fast-moving embrace of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

For months, Zelenskyy has tried to walk a fine line between reaching out to Trump, who promised a quick agreement to end the war, and standing up for his nation's demand that it be included in any discussions leading to an accord. That balancing act got harder last week, when Trump spoke to Putin by phone and informed Zelenskyy – and his Ukrainian allies – only afterward.

Any remaining hopes seemed to fade Wednesday when Trump, embracing the Kremlin's narrative, denounced Zelenskyy as a "dictator." Trump warned in a social media post that the Ukrainian leader had "better move fast" to reach a deal with Russia "or he is not going to have a country left."