For years, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been seen as one of the world’s bravest leaders. His defiant stand against Russia’s invasion turned him into a symbol of global resistance and the de facto leader of the free world.
His famous response to an evacuation offer—”The fight is here. I need ammunition, not a ride”—remains legendary.
Trump Shuts Zelenskyy Out of Talks
But now, the situation is shifting. President Donald Trump is not negotiating with Zelenskyy, but rather with Russian President Vladimir Putin about Ukraine’s future. Instead of participating, Zelenskyy is only being informed of the results afterward.
Trump and Putin are expected to meet soon in both Moscow and Washington, marking a dramatic shift in diplomacy. Meanwhile, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth called Ukraine’s pre-war borders an “unrealistic” goal and warned that continuing to pursue them would only prolong the war and cause more suffering.
A Leader Sidelined?
This leaves Zelenskyy in an uncomfortable position, reduced to a bystander in discussions about his own country’s fate. The Ukrainian leader, however, is not willing to accept this new reality without a fight.
The day after Trump’s announcement, Zelenskyy acknowledged that it was “really not very pleasant” that Putin and Russia took priority in Trump’s first major diplomatic move.
Zelenskyy made it clear that he would not tolerate being sidelined, stating, “Ukraine must come first, and there can be nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine.” He firmly rejected any bilateral negotiations between the U.S. and Russia that do not include Ukraine.
A New Alliance with Europe?
Zelenskyy’s frustration echoes the sentiments of several European leaders, who were also left out of Trump’s talks with Putin. Many were stunned by the apparent concessions Trump is prepared to make.
The Ukrainian president wasted no time aligning himself with Europe, questioning, “Where is Europe?” in response to the upcoming Trump-Putin negotiations. This raises the possibility of a new Ukraine-EU alliance forming independently of U.S. and Russian influence.
Europe Rallies Behind Ukraine
Trump’s shift in approach has triggered a surge of military support from European nations. Within 24 hours, European allies and Canada pledged a new wave of military aid to Ukraine, including over 100 tanks and armored vehicles, 6,000 kamikaze drones, air defense weapons, and advanced artillery systems.
This response sends a strong message not only to Trump but also to Zelenskyy, who now faces the challenge of proving his effectiveness as a statesman once again.
Scholz Calls for a Strong European Response
On Thursday evening, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz weighed in on Trump’s plan to negotiate Ukraine’s future with Putin. He warned that Europe must take a “clear, swift, and decisive stance”—not at some future point, but immediately.
Scholz acknowledged that direct talks between Trump and Putin could be useful but stressed that any peace agreement must be just and sustainable. “Peace must be long-lasting,” he said. “A dictated peace will never have our support.”
As Trump and Putin move forward with their discussions, Europe must now decide how to assert its role in shaping Ukraine’s fate.
