Editorial: Unmaking friends, befriending foes

By projecting Ukraine as a villain in the ongoing conflict, US President Trump is playing a dangerous game that could further alienate America’s traditional allies, including Europe

Trump 2.0 appears to be bent upon harming friends more than the foes. He has been picking America’s allies for some harsh treatment while befriending rivals — usually the infamous dictators — in his ambitious pursuit of reshaping the global order. Trump’s statements on the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war — blaming Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for ‘starting the war’ and dubbing him as a ‘dictator without elections’ — are outrageous and reflect his warped sense of history. By projecting Ukraine, not as a victim of invasion but as a villain in the ongoing conflict, the US President is not only spreading a deliberate lie but also playing a dangerous game that could further alienate America’s traditional allies, including Europe. Shielding Russian President Vladimir Putin, who ordered a military invasion of the tiny neighbour, and laying the blame at the doorstep of Zelenskyy amounts to a blatant distortion of reality. Though Trump has never been a fan of Ukraine and has long expressed admiration for Putin, his latest vitriol targeted at Zelenskyy sent shock waves across European nations which, along with the US, have been extending financial and military help to Ukraine to take on the mighty Russia. Trump has dubbed Zelenskyy as “a modestly successful comedian who talked the US into spending $350 billion to go into a war that could not be won”. Both his claims are far from the truth: Neither the US spent so much money nor did Ukraine start the war.

Trump has never been particularly sympathetic to Ukraine even before the latest conflict. As far back as his first campaign for President in 2016, he signalled that he could accept Russia’s annexation of Crimea from Ukraine and expressed admiration for Putin’s strength. Later, in 2019, he directly approached Ukrainian leadership to help tarnish the image of Joe Biden, then the leading Democratic candidate for President, by announcing a corruption investigation. Trump even withheld military aid to Ukraine at the same time and only released it under pressure from advisers and Republican senators. Revelations about his actions during the time led to his impeachment by the House later that year. Curiously, Ukraine has been left out of the ongoing high-level talks between the United States and Russia in Riyadh, ostensibly aimed at ending the Russia-Ukraine war. Though American authorities have assured that Kyiv and Europe will be part of the negotiation process moving forward, the key question is whether the talks will lead to a just resolution that respects Ukraine’s sovereignty. With Washington and Moscow focusing on territorial discussions and long-term security arrangements, Ukraine will need to ensure that its core interests are not compromised. The challenge is to balance diplomatic flexibility with firm red lines, ensuring that any settlement strengthens Ukraine’s sovereignty and independence. The coming weeks will be crucial in determining whether these negotiations can lead to a lasting solution.

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