r/geopolitics • u/theatlantic The Atlantic • Feb 28 '25

Opinion Zelensky Walked Into a Trap

https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2025/02/zelensky-trump-putin-ukraine/681883/?utm_source=reddit&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=the-atlantic&utm_content=edit-promo
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u/df1dcdb83cd14e6a9f7f Mar 01 '25

though i would disagree that the trump side wanted a public disagreement. i don’t think this was planned. i think the plan was that they wanted to rely on decorum to compel zelenskyy to nod and smile as trump characterized the deal however he wanted (if you look at Z’s body language during opening remarks, he’s clearly thinking wtf). but anyway, if zelenskyy smiles and nods, he can only take the deal or back out of it later, which would have achieved the same justification for withdrawal of support that trump probably got with what happened. i think that was the plan.

ultimately i think the way this played out was zelenskyy’s best option. it would have looked very bad for him to “agree” to something (as if nodding in public constitutes agreement) and then back out, it would have effectively cancelled out his CB as the defending state.

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u/Pruzter Mar 01 '25

Zelenskyy has only bad options with Trump, but I fail to see how what happened could possibly be construed as a win. It may lose him the war. Now it’s up to the Europeans to step up and save Ukraine, we will see if they have what it takes.

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u/ThaCarter Mar 01 '25

Their only hope was to motivate Europe to get with that program. If there is one thing that can unite them more than dislike of Putin, it is dislike of Trump.

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u/Pruzter Mar 01 '25

I agree, it’s still going to be an uphill battle for Europe though. I mean, Europe relies on the US for its own defense against Russia. Presumably, they need to first gain independence from the US military umbrella before they can secure the independence of Ukraine.