Trump moved closer to Moscow and anti-Western camp, says analyst
Hryhoriy Perepelytsia, director of the Institute for Foreign Policy Studies, explained on Radio NV that differing positions between U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made their clash "inevitable" on Feb. 28.
Hryhoriy Perepelytsia
What happened was unlikely to unfold differently.
Despite Zelenskyy’s efforts to convince Trump that he remains a partner of Ukraine, as before, Trump made it clear from the start that he is no longer on Ukraine’s side — or even aligned with the Western world.
He distanced himself from the Western coalition and aligned with Moscow’s anti-Western stance.
This shift extends beyond Ukraine to all of Europe. Though not as explicitly, Trump also distanced himself from [French President Emmanuel] Macron and [British Prime Minister Keir] Starmer, signaling his alignment with Russia.
At the same time, Trump positions himself as a negotiator, portraying himself as an arbitrator. Ukraine still sees the U.S. as a partner, but the so-called Kellogg plan — drafted by Trump’s special representative on Ukraine and Russia — outlines a different approach.
The plan prioritizes a ceasefire and settlement through negotiations, establishes a demarcation line along the current front, and proposes a demilitarized zone — without U.S. involvement, leaving it to the Europeans.
The plan also dismisses Western values, including human rights, as a basis for compromise. It argues that continuing the war is not in U.S. interests, warning of the risks of escalation, including nuclear conflict.
According to Trump’s stance, continued American military aid to Ukraine would be subject to broader strategic considerations.
Meanwhile, Ukraine sees the U.S. as a committed ally, expecting continued support because Russia is the aggressor and Ukraine the victim.
But Trump’s speech suggested the opposite: a focus on protecting Russia rather than condemning it.
These opposing positions made confrontation inevitable. Zelenskyy had no choice but to defend Ukraine’s security and future — because the survival of the nation is at stake.
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