One thing is clear in this complex web of interests: none of the major actors are genuinely interested in peace. Each is playing a longer game, seeking strategic advantages while Ukraine faces mounting challenges in its fight for survival. A report by Bijoy Patro
The recent confrontation between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and US President Donald Trump has exposed a stark reality: none of the key players in the Ukraine conflict are truly invested in peace. While public statements and diplomatic efforts are often framed as moves towards resolution, the underlying actions and motivations tell a different story. The ongoing war, now in its third year, is driven more by geopolitical ambitions, economic interests, and political manoeuvring than by any real effort to end hostilities.
Let us first examine the Washington Breakdown. Does it really mean an end to US support for Ukraine?
The Zelensky-Trump meeting at the White House was meant to reaffirm US support for Ukraine. Instead, it highlighted the widening rift between Kyiv and Washington. Trump, long critical of NATO and sceptical of Ukraine’s strategic value to the US, dismissed Ukraine’s NATO aspirations, blaming the war itself on the alliance’s eastward expansion.
Trump’s approach was transactional — he sought a $500 billion rare earth minerals deal with Ukraine in exchange for continued military and economic support. Zelensky, in contrast, aimed for firm security guarantees, viewing them as essential to Ukraine’s survival. When neither side budged, the meeting dissolved into acrimony, resulting in the suspension of US military aid and intelligence sharing.
As a Democratic Party leader said, Zelensky “flew to Washington but walked into the Kremlin.” Zelensky refused to apologise. But, days later, he described the meeting as a “regrettable” gathering.
In the aftermath, Zelensky signalled a willingness to negotiate, hinting that Ukraine might revisit the minerals deal in a bid to restore US backing. However, by then, Trump had already initiated direct talks with Russia, bypassing Ukraine entirely. Indeed, the question the episode seemed to raise was whether Zelensky’s virtual turnaround was really an effort to woo the Americans – particularly after the action of thanking each European Leader individually, and, publically.
A crumbling western alliance
The fallout from the Washington meeting revealed fractures within the Western alliance. Europe, while publicly maintaining solidarity with Ukraine, has struggled to provide the military and economic backing needed to sustain the war effort. The EU’s counteroffer to Ukraine – promising a “mutually beneficial” minerals deal – underscored its desire to assert influence, but it lacked the security assurances Kyiv so desperately needs.
