On the eve of the Geneva meeting between US, Ukrainian, and European delegations, Donald Trump posted an angry message on social media. In it, he once again accused Ukraine of lacking gratitude towards the US for its support in resisting Russian aggression.
Trump emphasized that the war would never have started if he had remained president after the 2020 election and accused both the Ukrainian and US leadership of lacking strong leadership. His criticism targeted both Joe Biden and Volodymyr Zelensky.
Trump claimed that Biden was providing aid to Ukraine for free and suggested that the US had more interest in supporting international law than Ukraine did. Political analyst Vitaliy Portnikov notes that such statements show a misunderstanding of modern politics.
Trump likely seeks to gain an advantage in the negotiations by applying public pressure. His position has been criticized not only in Ukraine and the EU but also in the US, where senators from both parties have compared the proposed war-ending plan to historical compromises that failed.
Portnikov notes that it is difficult to agree on legal and financial details in such a short time, but Trump is trying to push the plan through pressure. He stresses that the Ukrainian delegation should stick to its position despite public pressure and the tone of Trump's statements.
The political analyst recommends ignoring Trump’s posts on social media and not succumbing to pressure, as international experience shows that consistency in defending one’s views often leads to success.
In conclusion, he emphasizes the need for a tough yet balanced policy when working with the US administration, especially considering Trump’s sympathies towards authoritarian leaders and the possible influence of Russia.
