After the televised bullying and humiliation of Ukrainian President Zelenskiy at the Oval Office by President Trump and Vice President JD Vance on Friday, the suspension of all US military aid to Ukraine came as no surprise. Zelenskiy had to be punished for the ‘disrespect’ he showed Trump and for failing to thank the United States for the military and financial assistance it gave Ukraine since the start of Russia’s assault.

While it was shocking, watching the leader of the free world and his sidekick berating the leader of a country fighting for its survival against a brutally aggressive power and making out that Zelenskiy was to blame for the three-year war being waged against the Ukraine, Trump had made his position clear from the start. Even if there had been no staged blow-up in the White House on Friday, Trump would still have ordered the suspension of the aid, which will affect the delivery of ammunition, vehicles and other equipment, further weakening Ukraine’s ability to defend itself.

Everything he had said and done about ending the war indicated he was happy to achieve this by the capitulation of Ukraine to Russia. He had a long telephone conversation with President Putin after which he announced to the world that Russia was ready for a ceasefire. Talks on how to end the war were subsequently conducted between the US and Russia in Saudi Arabia, without Ukraine being invited to attend. It was evident that any agreement reached would be cut to the measures of Russia and Ukraine would have to take it or leave it. Trump, even repeated Moscow’s propaganda, dismissing Zelenskiy as a dictator, who had refused to hold elections; he subsequently denied having said this.

The fact is that Trump has no interest in the US carrying on funding the Ukraine’s defence and providing security for Europe as America had done since the end of World War II. Nobody can force him to maintain the post-war world or to stay loyal to trusted allies of the last 80 years, because he has a transactional understanding of alliances between countries. Zelenskiy’s visit to the White House on Friday was for the signing of an agreement allowing America’s exploitation of Ukraine’s rare earth minerals, as payback for the financial and military support provided by the US. The EU, which provided more support, has asked for nothing.

Related Articles

The suspension of military aid forced Zelenskiy to change tune. On Tuesday afternoon he issued a statement, praising Donald Trump’s “strong leadership” and regretting what happened at Friday’s meeting. “It is time to make things right,” he said, adding that regarding the agreement on minerals and security, “Ukraine is ready to sign it at any time and in any convenient format.” It was a climbdown, that may have been assisted by Vance’s comment to Fox News, that giving the US an interest in the Ukraine – through the minerals deal – would serve as a security guarantee. The security guarantee was what Zelenskiy had demanded on Friday but was denied.

Hopefully, Trump will sign the deal and then focus on delivering peace, without championing Russia’s interests too excessively.