February 28, 2025 – a day that can be considered the funeral of American diplomacy. This day became a moment of truth for the U.S., Ukraine, and the whole world. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy proved ready for tough diplomatic confrontation, while Donald Trump, it seems, did not expect such strong resistance. The American leader was irritated by the fact that the head of the “small, unwanted Ukraine” (as critics like to say) dared to say “no” to him. But what really happened behind closed doors?
Pressure on Ukraine
Trump, who is trying to build a new international policy, faced an unexpected setback. His tactics towards Ukraine turned out to be less effective than he had hoped. The American president resorted to all possible manipulation methods to force Zelenskyy to make concessions. Let’s look at each of these tactics in detail.
1. Blaming the victim for their circumstances (gaslighting)
Trump tried to shift the responsibility for the situation onto Ukraine itself: suggesting that the war continued because Kyiv was not ready for compromise. This is a classic tactic where the aggressor tries to justify themselves and make the victim feel guilty for their own defense.
2. Devaluing Ukrainian resistance
The American president insisted that U.S. assistance was a decisive factor in the war, and that Ukrainians’ resistance was nothing more than a secondary aspect. He tried to create the impression that without Washington, Kyiv was doomed.
3. Blackmail with the most valuable: accusing of playing with people’s lives
Ukraine was made to feel guilty for the casualties among military and civilians, as if they could have ended the war if they agreed to negotiate with Russia on Moscow’s terms.
4. Devaluing war victims
Trump used rhetoric that questioned the significance of Ukraine’s losses. He transmitted a position essentially stating, “Everyone suffers in wars,” downplaying the tragedy of the Ukrainians.
5. Forced capitulation under the guise of “diplomacy”
Any attempts by Kyiv to defend its interests were labeled as “unwillingness for peace,” while calls for resilience were deemed “irresponsibility.”
6. Manipulation with the concept of “peace”
Trump tried to sell Ukraine a “peace” that would essentially mean capitulation to Russia. At the same time, he denied the actual state of affairs – that Russia has no intention of stopping aggression, and any weakness on Ukraine’s part will only strengthen Kremlin pressure.
7. Refusal to acknowledge the reality of war
Trump’s consistent attempts to portray the war as an internal conflict or civil confrontation only play into Russia’s hands. This rhetoric seeks to deny the fact of invasion and justify the aggressor.
8. Dominance tactic
The meeting was structured in a way that put Zelensky in the position of “requesting” help from Washington. This is an attempt to impose a subordinate position and force Ukraine to agree to unfavorable conditions.
9. Pressure and forced “gratitude”
Ukraine is constantly reminded that it receives assistance from the US, implying that Kyiv wouldn’t be able to resist without it. Thus, any disagreement with Washington is portrayed as ingratitude.
10. Creating the illusion that Ukraine is indebted to America
Trump’s approach is a classic strategy of dependency: suggesting that without the US, Kyiv would have had no chances. This approach ignores the efforts of Ukraine itself and its allies in Europe.
At the same time, it is worth noting that several effective pressure tactics were consciously applied, such as the “two against one” technique and the use of the English language, of which both American politicians are native speakers. Of course, Zelensky has a good command of English, but he does not reach the level of a native speaker, which makes him slower and less precise in his statements.
Backfire: Why Did Everything Turn Against Trump?
However, all these manipulative tactics played against Trump himself. World leaders did not support his actions, and Ukraine did not yield to the pressure. Moreover, a week before this meeting, it became known that:
- The USA is halting assistance in the restoration of Ukrainian power plants after Russian attacks.
- Trump plans to close the NATO base in Greece, which was crucial for supplying weapons to Ukraine.
Trump: Short-sightedness or Deliberate Betrayal?
Today’s actions of Trump can be explained by two reasons:
- Failure to understand the situation and consequences of his decisions. Perhaps he simply does not realize that his actions only escalate the crisis and weaken the US position in the world.
- Consciously playing in favor of Russia. The most believable scenario is that Trump intentionally pushes Ukraine to make concessions to the Kremlin, which may indicate hidden agreements with Putin.
Conclusion
The meeting between Zelensky and Trump became a defining moment for global politics. It showed that Ukraine is not ready to surrender even under the greatest diplomatic pressure. At the same time, Trump’s actions have raised doubts about the democratic principles of the USA and sparked a negative reaction among world leaders.
The main question now is how events will unfold further? Will Ukraine find new allies who can compensate for a possible US withdrawal of support? And will this meeting become the beginning of a new stage of Trump’s international isolation?
One thing can be said for sure: Ukraine has already proven that it is not a weak player on the international stage. And even under strong pressure, it remains true to its principles.
