Trump sides with Ukraine, for today
At least for today, Zelensky is not the subject of Donald Trump’s wrath.
It’s never easy to predict who will be the erratic US president’s latest target. But Volodymyr Zelenksy will be relieved to discover that, at least for today, he is not the subject of Donald Trump’s wrath.
A week on from the Ukrainian President’s calamitous visit to the White House, Trump has changed his tune and logged onto Truth Social to blast Vladimir Putin.
"Based on the fact that Russia is absolutely 'pounding' Ukraine on the battlefield right now, I am strongly considering large scale Banking Sanctions, Sanctions, and Tariffs on Russia until a Cease Fire and FINAL SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT ON PEACE IS REACHED.”
Trump continued: "To Russia and Ukraine, get to the table right now, before it is too late. Thank you!!!"
The Russian “pounding” which the US leader suggests could be grounds for scaled-up sanctions is a reference to the wave of overnight drone and missile strikes Moscow launched on Ukraine, damaging energy and gas infrastructure and setting residential buildings ablaze.
Are things looking any better - or worse - for Kyiv compared to this time last week when a berated Zelensky pulled away from the White House early, minerals deal unsigned?
Worse in the sense that Washington has since halted military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine. The overnight attacks were the first wave of bombings it has endured since Washington left it more vulnerable to Russia’s onslaught.
Better in the sense that there appears to be a slight shift in tone from the Trump administration.
On Wednesday, Trump read out to Congress an “important letter” he had received from Zelensky, adding “I appreciate that he sent [it]”.
Its content suggests the Ukrainian President has recognised that the only way to make progress with Donald Trump is to pander to his ego: “I stand ready to work under President Trump’s strong leadership to get a peace that lasts,” Zelensky wrote, adding “we remember the moment when things changed when President Trump provided Ukraine with Javelins.”
Yesterday, Trump’s Middle East Envoy, Steve Witkoff, claimed the conciliatory letter had been “a very positive first step” in improving relations.
Mykhaylo Podolyak, a key adviser to President Zelensky's chief of staff, expressed relief, noting that just seven days ago "many thought relations had been severed for a long time."
"Can we say that co-operation with the US has been restored in full? Practically yes," he added.
How long will this apparent improvement in relations be sustained?
That depends on what happens in Saudi Arabia next week.
On Tuesday, delegations from Washington and Kyiv are meeting in Riyadh for talks, where they are expected to sign a rare earth minerals deal and, in the words of Witkoff, “get down the framework for a peace agreement".
Zelensky has expressed hope that the meeting will be “meaningful”. Trump, meanwhile, told reporters that “Ukraine wants to make a deal because I don't think they have a choice”. The same, he added, applies to Russia.
As Tim Marshall writes in Reaction today, Trump wants to get the Ukraine “problem” out of the way so he can focus on China.
As for whether he is siding with Putin or Zelensky, that depends on whoever he decides at any given moment is most getting in the way of his peace-maker ambitions.
Caitlin Allen
Deputy Editor
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