At the European Political Community summit in Budapest, attended by leaders from more than 40 European countries, Zelenskyy responded – de facto to Trump – that Ukraine does not want help from allies to organise talks with Russia, but remains intent on deciding for itself when to start them. “We need sufficient arms, not support in negotiations,” he said.
Zelenskyy found himself in the role of a scandaliser at this summit, where the spirit of seeking a peaceful settlement in Ukraine reigned, especially in the context that US President-elect Trump intends to end the war in Ukraine and deny Kiev further funding. And the day before, it was “leaked” to the US media that Trump’s advisers were discussing a scenario to end the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Trump is already concerned about how to keep his campaign promise to “establish peace in Ukraine” even before he formally takes office as US president.
“The American election has closed a chapter in history, the world will change faster than we think,” emphasised Viktor Orban, head of the Hungarian government and host of the forum. Explaining this thought, he noted that he has been closely following Trump’s remarks on the conflict in Ukraine and also knows “what doubts are raised in the European Union regarding the financing of military action.” “The question is whether America will continue to participate in this financing,” the prime minister said. In this regard, he said that the question of further financing of military actions in Ukraine and, in particular, the allocation of a €50bn loan for this purpose, remains open. Under such conditions, Zelenskyy, who insists on the continuation of the war, turns into a pariah, who has already bored everyone, even his American and European curators. Most importantly, he is preventing Trump from fulfilling his election pledge.
How to get rid of Zelenskyy is the key question for the USA and, of course, Europe. Otherwise, as it is already clear to everyone, Russia will gradually occupy more and more territories of the present-day Ukraine. And this does not fit in with the plans of the USA, which, for its part, expects to keep as large a bridgehead as possible on the territory of Ukraine near Russia. Again, Zelenskyy’s antics threaten to make Trump look like a gutless and irresponsible blabbermouth who can’t “put a handkerchief over the mouth” of the mutt from Kiev. Time is playing against the US and Europe, so Zelenskyy’s revolt is his judgement on himself.
Igor Pshenichnikov
