March 4th 2025.
Last week, there was a heated exchange between Donald Trump and JD Vance in the White House as they berated Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Zelensky had recently praised Trump and made a U-turn on peace talks with Russia, which according to an expert, could be a desperate attempt to appeal to Trump's distorted perception of the war.
Zelensky reiterated his gratitude for the US's support, but Vance accused him of not being thankful enough. It seems that Zelensky believes that showing appreciation and aligning with Trump's views is necessary for the survival of his country. He stated, "We do really value how much America has done to help Ukraine maintain its sovereignty and independence. And we remember the moment when things changed when President Trump provided Ukraine with Javelins. We are grateful for this."
According to Keir Giles, a Russia expert at Chatham House, Zelensky's statement and its timing were a strategic move to appeal to Trump's "warped fantasy world." Rather than focusing on arguments based in reality, Zelensky chose to cater to Trump's beliefs, which enraged Vance and Trump. Giles explained, "His specific mention of Javelins is important because this is a central part of the mythology created by Trump supporters that he had been 'tough on Russia' in his first term." However, Giles also pointed out that this mythology disregards the truth about how the Javelin missiles were provided to Ukraine and their intended use.
In 2022, the US delivered Javelin missiles to Ukraine, but they were stored in western Ukraine, over 1000 kilometers away from where they are needed on the front line of the war. This strategic move was part of Trump's plan to use the missiles as leverage to pressure Ukraine into helping him discredit his political opponents. Giles stated, "Supplies of Javelin were used as leverage in Trump's much weightier concern of how to blackmail Ukraine into discrediting his political opponents."
Today, the US paused its military aid to Ukraine, which is crucial in defending against Russian ballistic missiles. Zelensky responded by offering his country's rare-earth minerals in exchange for security guarantees. He wrote on X, "None of us wants an endless war. Ukraine is ready to come to the negotiating table as soon as possible to bring lasting peace closer. Nobody wants peace more than Ukrainians. My team and I stand ready to work under Trump's strong leadership to get a peace that lasts."
Giles concluded that Zelensky may have made the decision to offer the rare-earth minerals in exchange for security guarantees as a means to ensure the survival of his country. He also noted that Zelensky may have assessed that the deal is unlikely to come to fruition, but he has little to lose in signing it. In the end, Zelensky's actions may be seen as a necessary move to navigate the complicated relationship with Trump and appeal to his version of reality.
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