Zelenskyy and Trump
On the 28th Feb ‘25, President Zelenskyy met with President Donald Trump to discuss an agreement, whereby Ukraine would essentially give up 50% of the future revenues of the exploitation/extraction of its natural resources into a fund that would be jointly controlled by Ukrainian and US representatives.
The maximum percentage of ownership of the Fund’s equity and financial interests to be held by the Government of the United States of America and the decision-making authority of the representatives of the Government of the United States of America will be to the extent permissible under applicable United States laws.
Read more here: https://kyivindependent.com/exclusive-the-full-text-of-the-final-us-ukraine-mineral-agreement/
Whilst this would, in theory, result in a ceasefire Ukraine wouldn’t be getting any security guarantees. The argument that Trump gave for the lack of guarantees was that US corporations operating in the area would be enough, that Russia wouldn’t dare military action in an area where US interests are operating.
To say the press conference exploded in spectacular fashion is an understatement.
The full interview here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pxbGjvcdyY&t=0s
Since then, I have noticed a few different takes on it. A lot of major news outlets are saying that the whole thing was a setup by President Trump, with the aim of humiliating President Zelenskyy. Of these outlets, some even imply that the outcome (no agreement, and President Zelenskyy being thrown out of the White House) was also predetermined.
In other political commentary circles, there have been those who called this a failure of diplomacy on President Zelenskyy’s part. That because he failed to flatter President Trump, he failed to achieve a ceasefire that Ukraine needs. (an example of this here: https://youtu.be/QNHCzJqYb3U?si=A2QV5qfeXwdIUgqY&t=533).
Personally, I think that the meeting was a setup. But I don’t believe it was about a simple humiliation, I believe it was a trap setup with the expectation that President Zelenskyy would bend the knee, kiss the ring, and sign the agreement. Only for the US and Russia to divide up Ukraine and use the agreement as legal cover.
I think President Zelenskyy saw this possibility, and in what may be the greatest act of diplomacy I’ve ever seen, took actions to make sure this wouldn’t come to pass.
As President Trump has gotten older and more set in his ways, his actions have become harder to predict, but his reactions have become easier. Time and time again we have seen his reactions to anyone who criticised him, disagreed with him, or just wasn’t effusive enough in their praise of him. This has only gotten more pronounced over the years.
By initially and publicly agreeing to a meeting with President Trump over this proposal, President Zelenskyy signals to the world that Ukrainian resources are on the table. That he is willing to take part in conversations that are more transactional when it comes to security.
In contradicting President Trump, President Zelenskyy deliberately baited him into arcing up. In refusing to back down and pander to President Trumps ego, President Zelenskyy guaranteed that President Trump wouldn’t make any form of deal, and that he would suffer reprisal.
This reprisal (which turned out to be being the first foreign leader in history to be ejected from the White House) then removes any legitimacy that President Trump or the US may have had at attempting to unilaterally negotiate with Russia on the terms of a ceasefire. Something that they had been doing up to this point.
In a single act President Zelenskyy guaranteed that he wouldn’t have to sign a terrible deal, signals that resources are on the table for security guarantees, removes any legitimacy from any unilateral US actions, galvanises the EU into further support, and pulls Ukraine back into US news cycles.
The man is a freaking genius.