Why is Zelenski, before the crucial meeting with Trump, take an example from Vladimir Putin
Volodimir Zelenski will enter the Oval Bureau on Monday for one of the most important meetings: a chance to reset relations with Donald Trump, to ensure an end of the war as accurately as possible to his country and to obtain the US guarantees for the security of Ukraine. It will not be simple, and some voices urge him not to be emotional, and even to be inspired by the cold pragmatism that his opponent has shown in Alaska, writes Financial Times.
Tonight, in Washington, the Ukrainian leader will have to avoid repeating the disaster that took place at his last visit to the White House, in February, when Donald Trump and his vice-president, JD Vance, quarreled, attacked him in front of the whole world, accusing him of causing him “World War”.
Since then, the relationship has improved a little, although it is unlikely that Volodimir Zelenski will benefit from the goodwill and applause Vladimir Putin enjoyed when he arrived in Alaska on Friday.
Donald Trump, a lightning message before the Monday meeting with Zelenski and European leaders: “Some things never change!”
The good news for Zelenski is that it will be accompanied by the Allies – German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, and others will join the discussions.
They will probably try to support Zelenski's position, insist on the conclusion of an armistice, security guarantees for Ukraine and the territorial integrity of the country, although this is more complicated.
Guarantees and territories
On Sunday, Steve Witkoff, the special US emissary, said Putin has agreed in Alaska to allow Washington and his allies to provide Ukraine with security guarantees with NATO collective defense.
“We managed to obtain the following concession: that the United States can provide protection similar to the one provided for in Article 5, which is one of the real reasons why Ukraine wants to adhere to NATO,” Witkoff told CNN.
Zelenski has welcomed US support for security guarantees, but said they must be “very practical, apply on land, air and sea and must be provided with the participation of Europe.”
The problem of the territory will be even more thorny.
Trump – Zelenski – Europe. What is the stakes of the territories that will be discussed on Monday, at Washington / What an Information Officer says
In Alaska, Putin asked Ukraine to withdraw forces from the rest of the eastern regions Donetk and Luhansk in exchange for Russia's agreement to freeze the front line.
But Zelenski was clear about his limit: he will not give up the territory that is still under the control of Ukraine.
An “acceptable compromise”
Equally important that the substantive details will be the tone of the Monday meeting between US leaders and Ukraine, whose turbulence history dates back to 2019, when Trump's request for Kiev to investigate the Biden family has finally led to his prosecution by the US Congress.
A high Ukrainian official close to the president said that Zelenski's goal in the meeting will be to set a “productive peace -resolution process, without Ukraine being pressed to perform impossible measures, such as withdrawing forces” from Donetk and Luhansk, writes Financial Times.
For this, the Ukrainian president is ready to make an “acceptable compromise” along the current front line, which the Ukrainians could accept, said the official.
Kostantin Ielisiev, the foreign policy counselor of the former Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko, said that Zelenski must “avoid emotions” and even take an example from Putin's “pragmatism”, playing in the tone of interests and objectives (US President).
Trump's emissary states that in Alaska “solid security guarantees” have been agreed for Ukraine and that “the Russians made some territorial concessions
William Taylor, former US ambassador to Ukraine, said Zelenski would do well to say “calm, but directly” to Trump that Ukraine “will continue to defend Russian aggression.”
“Thanks to President Trump for supporting a strong security guarantee for Ukraine, as part of the coalition that will act. Express the hope that the strong US support will continue, but clarify that Ukraine will continue to defend itself. It has no other option,” he said.
Possible scenarios
Several current and former officials from the US and Ukraine are more pessimistic about Monday meeting, fearing that Zelenski could have difficulty changing dynamics in favor of Kiev.
Ivanna Klimpuș-T-Tanks, deputy from opposition to Ukraine, does not believe that the terms discussed could “effectively lead to a sustainable and sustainable peace, not to mention a fair peace.”
Iulia Klimenko, another opposition parliamentary, says she is afraid of Trump's anger if Zelenski will be too rigid or respond too strongly.
In order to prevent the US president from selling Ukraine, officials said Zelenski should resort to Trump's peace ambitions.
He could also argue that without US security guarantees – and without preserving Ukrainian fortified positions in Donetk and Luhansk – Putin could invade again, endangering the US mining agreement and Ukraine signed in April.
Much of Ukraine's critical minerals are under the rich soil of these eastern regions.
The best result, said Ielisiev, could be a “quick decision” from Trump “to increase the pressure on Putin and his allies through severe sanctions.”
“The imposition of Putin's peace is the best scenario. The worst scenario is an ultimatum from Trump to Zelenski and European leaders to sign the Alaska agreements (with Putin) or continue the fight without US support,” he said.
