Not retreating is victory. Given Donald Trump’s troubled relationship with Volodymyr Zelenskyy, this is significant.
The Mar-a-Lago meeting did not result in any physical progress, just as there was no significant movement during that moment in the Oval Office in February.
There were some noteworthy findings, however.
First, let’s examine Zelensky’s facial expressions.
Photo: AP/Alex Brandon
Sometimes he looked desperate – like when Trump’s Mar-a-Lago highlights an essential conversation by talking about food and body composition with the Ukrainian leader’s commander. Playground equipment.
There was a memorable moment when Zelenskyy’s poker face fell away. He shrugged, then laughed when Trump said, “Russia wants Ukraine to succeed.”
What a foolish thing to say by the American President. Look at the actions of Vladimir Putin. Listen to what he says.
Sometimes it’s difficult to know whether Trump is just ignorant, ignorant of detail, or really in Putin’s pocket. Zelensky probably has an idea but he managed to maintain his decorum.
Photo: AP/Alex Brandon
Beyond the spectacle of Zelensky’s face,
There were other key moments, as they would mark when Trump changes his position, as he has done before.
On US security guarantees, Zelensky seemed confident that Trump’s America would provide some kind of military backdrop to counter renewed Russian aggression in the future. But no leader has explained what this will look like.
According to Ukrainian sources, Trump’s pledge to provide security guarantees to support Ukraine remains a contentious issue, despite his initial pledge months ago and subsequent retreat.
Photo: Reuters
The same sources also said that Trump’s apparent willingness to visit Ukraine and address its parliament, which he expressed for the first time today, is a positive commitment.
Let’s see if he sticks to the pledge or shifts back to the safety guarantee.
The most vocal moment at the meandering and confusing news conference came from Zelenskyy when he charted progress with percentages.
He said:
- “20-point peace plan, 90% agreed”
- “US-Ukraine security guarantee, 100% agreed”
- “US, Europe, and Ukraine almost agree on security guarantees.”
So, this confirms that Zelenskyy has accepted US commitments on security guarantees but shows that more work needs to be done to mitigate some elements in US-Europe security cooperation.
This is significant because it includes the possibility of European troops on the ground in Ukraine. This is a Russian redline – and Trump knows it.
The complexity of progress, positioning, multi-point plans, and spin can easily overwhelm one.
But remember some basic things. First of all, Trump probably wants this war to end, but he doesn’t care how. Second, Putin has shown no real signs that he wants to end the war. Third, Ukraine does not want to be forced into any submissive submission.
A few weeks ago the Americans prepared a 26-point plan. It was like a Russian wish list.
Since then, Ukrainians, in coordination with Europeans and with Americans, have refined it. Now it is 20 points, and there are many Ukrainian concessions within it.
Europe and Ukraine now hope Trump will focus pressure back on Moscow and engage Vladimir Putin in a way that moves forward.
Stay optimistic.
