Trump-Zelenskyy Implosion: Implications of US Pulling the Plug

Rarely in recent times where systems, norms and interests dominate has the fate of a nation been so dependent on a single relationship.

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When President Zelenskyy entered the Oval Office, he needed to repair a deep rift between him and President Donald Trump, who in the previous week had called him a 'dictator'. But Trump had softened his tone after recently meeting with the British Prime Minister and the French President, both of whom spoke about the need for an enduring peace agreement that would deter future Russian aggression. Hence, the meeting held the future of US support for Ukraine's defense against Russia.

But on February 28th, the world witnessed something that normally takes place behind closed doors. It was a meeting in the Oval Office that was meant to ease tensions but instead descended into a televised shouting match. By the end, Ukraine's Ambassador to Washington, Oksana Markarova, was holding her head in her hands.

The Press Conference was canceled, and a deal giving the US access to Ukraine's critical minerals was not signed. As Zelenskyy drove back to his plane for an early departure, Trump delivered a terse message on social media accusing Zelenskyy of being 'not ready for peace if America is involved'.

The fact is that Trump and Zelenskyy have fundamentally different visions for how Russia's war in Ukraine should end. The breakdown in relations between President Donald Trump and President Zelenskyy has now brought many questions to the fore.

What are the implications of the US pulling the plug as far as assistance to Ukraine goes? Will this result in a wedge within NATO? And finally, can peace talks continue with Ukraine unwilling to enter into any talks? There are, of course, others being spoken about; the first being a regime change in Kyiv with the new leadership willing to enter into negotiations.

Implications of the US Pulling the Plug