Context:
The former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks out against the President of Ukraine, calling him “a dictator without elections.” Trump asserted that without an immediate resolution from Zelenskyy, Ukraine might not be a country, reiterating some of the controversial remarks he made, blaming Ukraine for the incitement of Russia’s invasion against it.
Ukraine’s Response: ‘We Will Defend Our Right to Exist’
- Zelenskyy rejected Trump’s comments, maintaining the idea originated in a Russian disinformation campaign.
- Andrii Sybiha, the Ukrainian foreign minister, backed Ukraine’s resistance, stating, “No one can force us to surrender.”
- Despite the backlash, Zelenskyy conversed with Trump’s envoy Keith Kellogg in hopes of strengthening Ukraine’s case in Trump’s inner circle.
A Roller Coaster Path of Elections: Democracy vs. Martial Law
- While Ukraine’s military has four years left in Zelenskyy’s term, he can’t hold an election because of martial law, declared after the Russian invasion in 2022.
- Amid this mounting debate over governance in wartime, widely declared a dictatorship by the one time president, Trump contended that Ukraine could not hold elections but could only postpone them for security reasons.
Will Trump Hold Possible Talks with Putin?
- Trump hinted at an ability to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin, thereby raising the stakes as to what he will do in relation to the war.
- The Kremlin had confirmed the possibility but insisted that a little more time will be needed to prepare for the summit.
- Meanwhile, President Putin has kept Ukraine’s doors open for peace talks but emphasized that rebuilding trust between Moscow and Washington is important in preceding such talks.
Altered Power Configurations and High Stake Diplomacy
- Trump’s condemnations of Zelenskyy, calls for bargaining with Putin, and Ukraine’s stance are a portrait of the war and its diplomatic consequences.
- We will wait and see in 2025 whether Trump’s actions directly shape the U.S. change on Ukraine and embolden Russia or perhaps not.
