Russia capitals on edge as Trump-Putin drama unfolds
- It's a disgrace for America and Trump - Borys Bondariew, a former employee of Russia's Permanent Mission to the UN in Geneva, tells o2.pl. In his opinion, Trump lives in a "great illusion" that the USA does not need allies. He also mocks the belief in diplomatic relations with Putin, emphasizing that "there is no chance" that anything good will come from them.
Friday's meeting between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky ended in an uproar, with the Ukrainian president being asked to leave the White House.
According to Bondariew, who worked in the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for over 20 years until resigning in May 2022 as a protest against Russia's invasion of Ukraine, "the whole situation says more about those who govern the USA now than about Zelensky himself."
Put yourself in Zelensky's shoes and try to behave differently. He is the president of a country grappling with a Russian invasion for three years. He is under enormous pressure. And what did he do wrong? He only stated that Putin had not respected previous agreements and asked why it would be different now. A simple, justified question. And J.D. Vance responded by using the language of Russian propaganda — Bondariew commented to o2.pl.
Trump-Zelensky tension: "one has to be very naive"
The sharp exchange of words began shortly after Marek Wałkuski's question. "I talk to friends in Poland who are concerned that you are aligning too closely with Putin. What is your message to them?" he addressed Trump during the meeting.
Then U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance joined the discussion, stating that "diplomacy might be the way to peace and prosperity" and that "this is exactly what President Trump is doing."
Diplomacy? What diplomacy?! - Bondariew commented to o2.pl. - Putin’s diplomacy? It means that Putin demands something, waits until he gets it, and only then will he talk about peace. You have to be very naive to believe this will bring any good. There's no chance.
Bondariew: "It will end with everyone turning away"
Some observers emphasize that the only winner of Friday's meeting between Trump and Zelensky was Vladimir Putin.
- Putin is definitely one step closer to victory because what happened is a disgrace for America and Trump. But let's also remember that Putin is not making Russia great again as he promised, but smaller and weaker, because people are dying, the economy is shrinking, and the technological gap between Russia and the West is growing - Bondariew stated.
- Trump might do the same with the USA. He thinks America is strong enough to handle all problems alone. But it's a great illusion. America is not powerful enough to rule the world alone. Trump wanted to make it great again, and he’s arguing with all allies. It will end with America having no friends, everyone turning away and looking for more predictable partners who will treat them with respect, like China, for example - he added.
He noted that Putin probably watches the situation calmly because he neither "needs Trump for anything" nor "wants to stop the war."
War is to his advantage. He can use it to justify various issues, e.g., high prices in stores. War gives him power. And if peace comes, new problems will arise. What to do with the army? What to do with those hundreds of thousands of people who would need to be demobilized? What then? Maybe a new war will be needed, he stated.
Bondariew also criticized some European leaders who, in his view, "continue to dream of the USA and them coming to Europe's aid, sending weapons and ammunition." - They should instead sit down and think about what to do without the USA - he declared.
On Sunday, a summit dedicated to Ukraine and security will take place in London. Participants will include British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President Antonio Costa, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, as well as leaders from France, Germany, Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Finland, Sweden, Czech Republic, Romania, and Turkey.
Zelensky will also be present at the summit. Some, like U.S. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, called for the resignation of the Ukrainian president following Friday's meeting. What advice does Bondariew have for him?
He must fight. There's no other way. And maybe Europe will come to its senses, which it should have done long ago - he said.
