Trump thinks best way to get back at Putin is to praise Zelenskyy — Politico
Photo: US and Ukrainian leaders Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy (Getty Images)
Praising President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and supporting Ukraine are the best ways to get back at Russian leader Vladimir Putin, according to US President Donald Trump, Politico reports.
The outlet notes that at the beginning of the year, it was hard to imagine good relations between Zelenskyy and Trump, especially after the unsuccessful meeting of the two leaders in the Oval Office on February 28.
At that time, the conversation turned into an argument, the Ukrainian President was accused of being ungrateful for US support, and the planned agreements were never signed. However, over time, the tension between the leaders began to ease, and eventually, their relationship even showed signs of improvement.
Trump and Zelenskyy reached an understanding
A Politico source credited the Ukrainian president for working persistently to improve his relationship with the American leader and for being careful in his statements.
Evidence of the thaw in relations between Trump and Zelenskyy includes their meeting in late September in New York, during the anniversary session of the UN General Assembly.
Zelenskyy then returned to Kyiv with positive news and signals that inspired optimism both for relations with the US and for hopes of peace in Ukraine.
It was around that time that media outlets began reporting on possible deliveries of long-range Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine, which the President had reportedly managed to preliminarily agree upon.
"The best way to get back at Putin is to praise Zelenskyy — that's how Trump sees it," a Politico source said.
The source also added that increasing US support for Ukraine would likewise serve as an act of revenge against the Kremlin leader.
According to one Republican source in foreign policy, after the meeting in Alaska, Putin showed complete disregard for human life. Russia's prolonged attacks on civilian targets in Ukraine, the source said, had a major influence on Trump's change in position.
"Trump needed time to understand who Putin really is," the source told the outlet.
In addition, the source noted that the US President was angered by the media coverage of the summit, which described it as Putin's triumph.
Trump–Zelenskyy relations
On February 28 this year, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Donald Trump in the Oval Office. The meeting ended in a dispute, and the Ukrainian leader returned home earlier than planned, with many issues left unresolved.
Trump's summit with Putin in Alaska, which was widely seen as friendly, also signaled his growing distance from Ukraine and its leadership.
During that meeting, the US President smiled at the Kremlin leader, the dialogue was relatively calm, and Moscow even noted a positive shift in relations between the two countries.
Trump turns away from Putin and moves closer to Ukraine
However, Putin's refusal to end the war, demonstrated by intensified attacks on Ukraine, began to fuel Trump's anger.
The US President’s statements condemning Russia's strikes on Ukraine had no visible effect on Putin. Later, during Trump's meeting with Zelenskyy in New York in late September, relations between the two leaders appeared to warm.
It was after that meeting that Zelenskyy returned with optimistic statements, and media outlets began reporting on potential deliveries of Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine.
Zelenskyy is heading to Washington
On October 17, the Ukrainian President is set to meet with Trump in Washington. The two leaders are expected to discuss possible deliveries of long-range Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine.
More details are available in the material by RBC-Ukraine.
