Ukrainians faced a daunting new reality on Saturday following the White House clash between President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and U.S. President Donald Trump which plunged ties between Kyiv and its top military backer to a new low.
Friday’s confrontation flared over differing visions of how to end Russia’s three-year-old invasion, with Zelenskyy seeking strong security guarantees from a Trump administration that has embraced diplomacy with Vladimir Putin’s Russia.
Ukrainians, many of them hardened by three years of war, rallied behind Zelenskyy in defiance but worried about the future of U.S. backing for Kyiv’s war effort.
“I think that Zelenskyy defended our position as a Ukrainian nation. Despite the pressure that was put on him, that was most likely planned before his arrival, he could hold his face,” Said Hlib, a 24-year-old Kharkiv resident.
“I support our President. He did an unexpected thing, but he did it right. Maybe it will be hard for Ukraine. But it is right: not to sell out, not to give up, not to fall on your knees – to be a patriot of your country” added Viktoriia, another Kharkiv resident.
“The Americans don’t know the real situation, what’s going on here,” said Ella Kazantseva, 54, across from a sea of flags in central Kyiv commemorating Ukraine’s war dead.
“They don’t understand. Everything is beautiful for them.”
Kazantseva is from eastern Ukraine, where fighting has been fierce. She was speaking shortly after the air force said it had destroyed more than 100 Russian-launched drones across Ukraine in the latest Russian attack.
In the northeastern city of Kharkiv, where a hospital was damaged overnight and seven people wounded, a local resident who identified himself as Ivan compared Trump’s behaviour to the main character in the 1972 gangster film “The Godfather.”
“Kiss the ring. If you don’t, get out,” he said, bundled up in a beige jacket.
“I think Trump’s behaviour was childish. ‘I don’t like what I’m being told – the truth – I stomp my foot and that’s it. I want everything to be my way’. They don’t understand that the Russians pose danger not only to us, to Europe, but to them also,” said Sofiia, a 22-year-old Kharkiv resident.
Following the spat in Washington, an agreement between Ukraine and the U.S. to jointly develop Ukraine’s natural resources - seen as important to peace efforts - was left unsigned and in limbo.
Kyiv resident Liudmyla Stetsevych, 47, said she feared her country was being squeezed by larger powers.
Ukrainians, many of them hardened by three years of war, rallied behind Zelenskyy in defiance but worried about the future of U.S. backing for Kyiv’s war effort.
“I think that Zelenskyy defended our position as a Ukrainian nation. Despite the pressure that was put on him, that was most likely planned before his arrival, he could hold his face,” Said Hlib, a 24-year-old Kharkiv resident.
“I support our President. He did an unexpected thing, but he did it right. Maybe it will be hard for Ukraine. But it is right: not to sell out, not to give up, not to fall on your knees – to be a patriot of your country” added Viktoriia, another Kharkiv resident.
“The Americans don’t know the real situation, what’s going on here,” said Ella Kazantseva, 54, across from a sea of flags in central Kyiv commemorating Ukraine’s war dead.
“They don’t understand. Everything is beautiful for them.”
Kazantseva is from eastern Ukraine, where fighting has been fierce. She was speaking shortly after the air force said it had destroyed more than 100 Russian-launched drones across Ukraine in the latest Russian attack.
In the northeastern city of Kharkiv, where a hospital was damaged overnight and seven people wounded, a local resident who identified himself as Ivan compared Trump’s behaviour to the main character in the 1972 gangster film “The Godfather.”
“Kiss the ring. If you don’t, get out,” he said, bundled up in a beige jacket.
“I think Trump’s behaviour was childish. ‘I don’t like what I’m being told – the truth – I stomp my foot and that’s it. I want everything to be my way’. They don’t understand that the Russians pose danger not only to us, to Europe, but to them also,” said Sofiia, a 22-year-old Kharkiv resident.
Minerals deal not signed
Following the spat in Washington, an agreement between Ukraine and the U.S. to jointly develop Ukraine’s natural resources - seen as important to peace efforts - was left unsigned and in limbo.
Kyiv resident Liudmyla Stetsevych, 47, said she feared her country was being squeezed by larger powers.
“Trump and Putin are dividing up the world - that’s what I would say. I don’t know what will come of it,” she said.
Stetsevych and others interviewed by Reuters expressed hope that Ukraine’s allies in Europe would boost political and military support if the U.S. dialled back its own.
European leaders leapt to Zelenskyy’s defense after Friday’s spat.
“A new era of wickedness has begun,” said German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock on Saturday, calling for Germany to release an additional 3 billion euros ($3.1 billion) in aid for Ukraine.
Ukrainian lawmaker Andrii Osadchuk said the tone from Trump and Vice President JD Vance was in line with prior rhetoric, and that Kyiv’s other Western partners needed to do more.
“Not just a lot, but probably everything will depend on Europe - both for itself and for Ukraine,” Osadchuk said.
Former President Petro Poroshenko, Zelenskyy’s main domestic political rival, said it was not the time to criticize Zelenskyy but that he hoped the president had a “Plan B.”
Stetsevych and others interviewed by Reuters expressed hope that Ukraine’s allies in Europe would boost political and military support if the U.S. dialled back its own.
European leaders leapt to Zelenskyy’s defense after Friday’s spat.
“A new era of wickedness has begun,” said German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock on Saturday, calling for Germany to release an additional 3 billion euros ($3.1 billion) in aid for Ukraine.
Ukrainian lawmaker Andrii Osadchuk said the tone from Trump and Vice President JD Vance was in line with prior rhetoric, and that Kyiv’s other Western partners needed to do more.
“Not just a lot, but probably everything will depend on Europe - both for itself and for Ukraine,” Osadchuk said.
Former President Petro Poroshenko, Zelenskyy’s main domestic political rival, said it was not the time to criticize Zelenskyy but that he hoped the president had a “Plan B.”
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