Dubai, United Arab Emirates – Many wonder about the secret behind US President Donald Trump’s change in tone towards Ukraine.
A few months after a sharp rebuke to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House, he returned to show a remarkable shift in his position on the Ukrainian war.
In addition to declaring his support for Kiev in regaining all its territory from Russia, at a time when his practical policies remain cautious and restrictive.
“Don’t have the cards” turned into “able to win”
Trump told Zelensky last February that Ukraine “does not have the cards” in its war with Russia. But recently in front of world leaders in New York, in a post on Truth Social, the US President praised the performance of the Ukrainian army.
He stressed that “Ukraine, with the support of the European Union, is in a position to fight and regain all of its original territory”.
This shift, according to American officials, came as part of an attempt to pressure Russian President Vladimir Putin to make concessions.
This is in light of Moscow’s military faltering and the slowdown in its economy, according to experts.
Political and field preparation
Senior US officials briefed Trump on the latest developments on the field, before his meeting with Zelensky.
Among them were Special Envoy to Ukraine Keith Kellogg and Washington’s new ambassador to the United Nations, Mike Waltz.
They also made clear to the president that Russia had not made tangible progress over the past two years, and that Kiev was preparing for a counterattack that would require American intelligence support.
But officials explained that the change in Trump’s speech was not accompanied by a fundamental change in policy. The White House still allows the supply of weapons to Ukraine, but restricts their use within Russian territory.
He is also reluctant to impose broader sanctions on Moscow.
February Lessons Learn Zelensky
Zelensky’s appearance this time was different from his previous disastrous meeting in February.
He abandoned the military uniform that sparked criticism in Washington, and wore a formal black jacket.
He also sat next to Trump, praising his support and efforts to end the war.
The Ukrainian president later said that Trump “understands the situation well and is familiar with all aspects of the war”, adding that the meeting was “good and constructive”.
new convergence
This rapprochement comes after a series of tensions between the two parties.
At the previous meeting, Trump described Zelensky as a “dictator without elections”, while Vice President J.D. Vance accused the Ukrainian delegation of ingratitude.
The meeting then ended with the expulsion of the Kiev delegation from the White House.
However, a fleeting meeting between the two leaders during Pope Francis’ funeral in the Vatican helped break the ice.
They sat together for 15 minutes in St. Peter’s Basilica, which Trump later described as a “beautiful meeting”, where he first publicly criticized Putin.
When Zelensky returned to the White House in August, the meeting seemed friendlier.
Trump proposed holding a peace conference with Russia, while praising the appearance of the new Ukrainian president.
Criticism of Moscow
Trump, in New York, went further in his criticism of Russia, describing its military as “slow” compared to Ukraine’s smaller capabilities.
He stressed his “great respect for the courage of Ukrainians”.
He also attacked Moscow’s economy, saying it was “in a very bad situation”, and praised efforts to stop buying Russian oil in Europe.
He pledged to pressure Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban to change his position.
mixed reactions
Trump’s remarks in Kiev were met with a mixture of cautious welcome and skepticism.
Zelensky’s chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, posted a photo of Trump’s remarks with a muscle symbol attached as a sign of strength.
In contrast, opposition lawmaker Yaroslav Zheleznyak wrote that Trump’s words “mean nothing” and will not translate into concrete steps.
What is Russia’s position?
For his part, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov commented that Zelensky’s position currently appears to dominate Trump’s speech.
But he indicated that Moscow would seek to convey its point of view to the US administration.
In this context, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met with his American counterpart Marco Rubio in New York.
As for Zelensky, he delivered a speech before the United Nations General Assembly in which he focused on calling for the condemnation of Russia, warning that Moscow “seeks to expand its ambitions in Europe”.
He stressed that “Ukraine is only the beginning, and Russian drones are already flying in the skies of the continent”.
He also warned that Moldova was being subjected to an organized Russian intervention campaign.
