“Standing His Ground”: Ukraine Backs Zelenskyy After Heated Trump Confrontation

The people of Ukraine came out in the support of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy after his controversial White House sit-down with Donald Trump and US Vice President JD Vance. A lot of Ukrainians accused Trump and the American leaders of openly seeking a conflict, fearing Trump might reduce weapons assistance to Ukraine.

Back home, Zelenskyy was widely applauded for his strong position, refusing any peace agreement without assurances of security and pointing out that Russia should not be trusted. Ukrainian authorities emphasized that any truce without firm promises will not last long. Zelenskyy’s bravery was hailed by Deputy Prime Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, while the governor of Kharkiv, Oleh Syniehubov, praised him for standing up against pressure to sign an agreement beneficial to Russia.

Others criticized that Zelenskyy bungled the summit, but the majority felt that he entered a planned ambush meant to destroy him. Ukrainian journalist Ilia Ponomarenko said that Trump would have been offended no matter how Zelenskyy handled it, blaming him for halting a possible deal with Vladimir Putin.

Public reaction in Ukraine was mixed. Some citizens, like Kyiv pensioner Valentina, wished Zelenskyy had taken a more conciliatory approach, believing Trump wants to end the war. Others expressed doubts about Ukraine’s ability to reclaim lost territories.

At the same time, Ukraine-US relations are increasing tensions. Trump recently called Zelenskyy a “dictator without elections,” and the US cast its vote with Russia and North Korea in the UN. Ukrainian social media was filled with praise for Zelenskyy, especially after a journalist criticized his outfit at the Oval Office meeting.

As US-Russia peace negotiations persist, Russia has escalated attacks, with recent overnight drone bombing of Kharkiv and the wounding of civilians. It is feared that many Ukrainians believe US policy changes may undermine their struggle against Russian aggression.