Zelenskyy Overlooked the Primary Guideline for Interacting with Trump
Flattery can open many doors, while insults will lead to rejection.
TroibNews 
When President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was elected in 2019, he quickly learned the ropes of engaging with his American counterpart. In one of his initial conversations with President Donald Trump — the infamous "perfect phone call" that would later lead to impeachment proceedings — Zelenskyy expressed his desire to “drain the swamp” in Ukraine and commended Trump for being a guide in this endeavor. “You are a great teacher for us in that,” he remarked.
Nearly six years later, during a crucial phase for his war-afflicted nation, Zelenskyy appeared to overlook a crucial aspect of engaging with Trump: flattery is essential in such dealings, and perceived public insults can lead to rapid dismissal. This was evident during a surprising meeting in the Oval Office last Friday, where Zelenskyy inadvertently entered into a public disagreement with Vice President JD Vance, stirring Trump’s displeasure.
It’s important to recognize that Zelenskyy is now a different leader in a drastically altered context compared to 2019. With Russia having invaded Ukraine, causing mass casualties, abductions, and widespread destruction, Zelenskyy has every right to advocate for recognition of Ukraine as a victim of aggression, not as its instigator.
Conversely, Trump remains unchanged. He has long viewed Ukraine with suspicion, and now, he associates the country and its leadership with his political adversaries, consolidating the Republican Party's support behind him.
If Zelenskyy wishes for the U.S. to “stay with us, not with Russians,” as he stated in a Fox News interview after the challenging Oval Office encounter, he must acknowledge the new dynamics in Washington. The U.S. stance toward Ukraine has shifted significantly under Trump and Vance, and even Zelenskyy’s supporters believe it’s crucial for him to grasp this reality for the sake of his country’s future.
The pressing question is whether he can mend the rift created by Friday’s incident. One White House official expressed uncertainty about how Zelenskyy might repair the damage: “I just don't know what … Zelenskyy can do to mend the fences. Shaking his head, rolling his eyes? He's trying to help you and he’s getting snide remarks in his own house?” Another official echoed similar sentiments, reporting that “everyone in the building — from the president on down — felt completely disrespected.”
“Today reflected many, many hours of many, many people's lives in an effort to build a partnership. … Instead, look at where he is: Even fucking Lindsey Graham is talking about how fucked up he was,” the official noted, referencing the South Carolina senator's immediate criticism of Zelenskyy after the Oval Office debacle.
Some Trump adversaries have insinuated without evidence that the incident was a calculated trap set by Trump and Vance to undermine the U.S.-Ukraine relationship permanently. This notion has frustrated White House staff who organized the meeting and are trying to comprehend its fallout. “I don't think anyone expected him to have the balls to show up and try to pick a fight with the toughest and biggest personality in world politics in public,” one White House official remarked, adding that it was a significant miscalculation for a nation on the brink of disaster.
Insiders familiar with Trump contend that the notion of him orchestrating a public humiliation for Zelenskyy overlooks Trump's primary interest — securing deals that many deem impossible. On Friday, White House officials noted that Trump was enthusiastic about advancing a mining-rights agreement with Ukraine. Some officials had even proposed that the leaders sign the agreement prior to their meeting, allowing the Oval Office visit to serve as a celebratory event. Trump, however, preferred to make a spectacle of signing the documents in front of cameras, according to one official.
Perhaps it was unreasonable to expect Zelenskyy to smile and engage in signing away parts of his nation’s mineral assets without receiving security assurances in return.
Zelenskyy's frustration is understandable, as the U.S., his nation's primary financial and military backer, has shown signs of wavering. The emergence of a new administration has seen pressure for peace negotiations and proposals that are more favorable to Russian President Vladimir Putin, including reneging on NATO membership commitments.
Conversely, Trump administration officials feel they have been accommodating despite the recent public exchanges between the two leaders. Zelenskyy's recent comments suggesting he was absorbing Putin's misinformation angered Trump, but two officials mentioned that the administration never sought a public apology before allowing discussions on the mineral agreement to advance.
Moreover, they pointed out that Trump had previously softened his approach, stepping back from his remark that Zelenskyy was a “dictator” during a meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer the day before. During their meeting, neither Trump nor Vance revisited Zelenskyy’s prior comments or longstanding concerns regarding Ukraine — until Vance advocated for a diplomatic approach to Putin, to which Zelenskyy questioned what kind of “diplomacy” could be effective, given Putin’s history of breaking agreements. Vance interpreted this inquiry as a provocation, responding, “I’m talking about the kind of diplomacy that’s going to end the destruction of your country. I think it’s disrespectful for you to come into the Oval Office to try to litigate this in front of the American media.”
The meeting veered off course despite Zelenskyy's prior guidance to adhere to a specific script during a private gathering with senators ahead of his visit to the White House. “Everyone was giving him the same advice, which was get the deal done, don’t play games and be very appreciative of everything that Trump and the administration have done,” said someone familiar with Zelenskyy’s discussions with GOP senators. “Lead with, ‘Thank you for everything that you've done,’ and get the deal done.”
Currently, pro-Zelenskyy lawmakers are desperately searching for ways to repair the fractured relationship. White House officials anticipate that Graham, who accompanied Trump on Air Force One to Mar-a-Lago on Friday night, will be instrumental in determining whether any agreement can be salvaged. Graham himself stated, “I don’t know if we can ever do business with Zelenskyy again,” urging that the Ukrainian leader “either needs to resign and send somebody over that we can do business with or he needs to change.”
Zelenskyy’s choice to avoid apologizing during his Fox News interview exacerbated the situation. Nonetheless, two senior White House officials indicated that Trump remains open to negotiation, stating that Zelenskyy “can come back when he is ready for Peace.” “He still wants a deal,” one added.
Navid Kalantari contributed to this report for TROIB News
Nearly six years later, during a crucial phase for his war-afflicted nation, Zelenskyy appeared to overlook a crucial aspect of engaging with Trump: flattery is essential in such dealings, and perceived public insults can lead to rapid dismissal. This was evident during a surprising meeting in the Oval Office last Friday, where Zelenskyy inadvertently entered into a public disagreement with Vice President JD Vance, stirring Trump’s displeasure.
It’s important to recognize that Zelenskyy is now a different leader in a drastically altered context compared to 2019. With Russia having invaded Ukraine, causing mass casualties, abductions, and widespread destruction, Zelenskyy has every right to advocate for recognition of Ukraine as a victim of aggression, not as its instigator.
Conversely, Trump remains unchanged. He has long viewed Ukraine with suspicion, and now, he associates the country and its leadership with his political adversaries, consolidating the Republican Party's support behind him.
If Zelenskyy wishes for the U.S. to “stay with us, not with Russians,” as he stated in a Fox News interview after the challenging Oval Office encounter, he must acknowledge the new dynamics in Washington. The U.S. stance toward Ukraine has shifted significantly under Trump and Vance, and even Zelenskyy’s supporters believe it’s crucial for him to grasp this reality for the sake of his country’s future.
The pressing question is whether he can mend the rift created by Friday’s incident. One White House official expressed uncertainty about how Zelenskyy might repair the damage: “I just don't know what … Zelenskyy can do to mend the fences. Shaking his head, rolling his eyes? He's trying to help you and he’s getting snide remarks in his own house?” Another official echoed similar sentiments, reporting that “everyone in the building — from the president on down — felt completely disrespected.”
“Today reflected many, many hours of many, many people's lives in an effort to build a partnership. … Instead, look at where he is: Even fucking Lindsey Graham is talking about how fucked up he was,” the official noted, referencing the South Carolina senator's immediate criticism of Zelenskyy after the Oval Office debacle.
Some Trump adversaries have insinuated without evidence that the incident was a calculated trap set by Trump and Vance to undermine the U.S.-Ukraine relationship permanently. This notion has frustrated White House staff who organized the meeting and are trying to comprehend its fallout. “I don't think anyone expected him to have the balls to show up and try to pick a fight with the toughest and biggest personality in world politics in public,” one White House official remarked, adding that it was a significant miscalculation for a nation on the brink of disaster.
Insiders familiar with Trump contend that the notion of him orchestrating a public humiliation for Zelenskyy overlooks Trump's primary interest — securing deals that many deem impossible. On Friday, White House officials noted that Trump was enthusiastic about advancing a mining-rights agreement with Ukraine. Some officials had even proposed that the leaders sign the agreement prior to their meeting, allowing the Oval Office visit to serve as a celebratory event. Trump, however, preferred to make a spectacle of signing the documents in front of cameras, according to one official.
Perhaps it was unreasonable to expect Zelenskyy to smile and engage in signing away parts of his nation’s mineral assets without receiving security assurances in return.
Zelenskyy's frustration is understandable, as the U.S., his nation's primary financial and military backer, has shown signs of wavering. The emergence of a new administration has seen pressure for peace negotiations and proposals that are more favorable to Russian President Vladimir Putin, including reneging on NATO membership commitments.
Conversely, Trump administration officials feel they have been accommodating despite the recent public exchanges between the two leaders. Zelenskyy's recent comments suggesting he was absorbing Putin's misinformation angered Trump, but two officials mentioned that the administration never sought a public apology before allowing discussions on the mineral agreement to advance.
Moreover, they pointed out that Trump had previously softened his approach, stepping back from his remark that Zelenskyy was a “dictator” during a meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer the day before. During their meeting, neither Trump nor Vance revisited Zelenskyy’s prior comments or longstanding concerns regarding Ukraine — until Vance advocated for a diplomatic approach to Putin, to which Zelenskyy questioned what kind of “diplomacy” could be effective, given Putin’s history of breaking agreements. Vance interpreted this inquiry as a provocation, responding, “I’m talking about the kind of diplomacy that’s going to end the destruction of your country. I think it’s disrespectful for you to come into the Oval Office to try to litigate this in front of the American media.”
The meeting veered off course despite Zelenskyy's prior guidance to adhere to a specific script during a private gathering with senators ahead of his visit to the White House. “Everyone was giving him the same advice, which was get the deal done, don’t play games and be very appreciative of everything that Trump and the administration have done,” said someone familiar with Zelenskyy’s discussions with GOP senators. “Lead with, ‘Thank you for everything that you've done,’ and get the deal done.”
Currently, pro-Zelenskyy lawmakers are desperately searching for ways to repair the fractured relationship. White House officials anticipate that Graham, who accompanied Trump on Air Force One to Mar-a-Lago on Friday night, will be instrumental in determining whether any agreement can be salvaged. Graham himself stated, “I don’t know if we can ever do business with Zelenskyy again,” urging that the Ukrainian leader “either needs to resign and send somebody over that we can do business with or he needs to change.”
Zelenskyy’s choice to avoid apologizing during his Fox News interview exacerbated the situation. Nonetheless, two senior White House officials indicated that Trump remains open to negotiation, stating that Zelenskyy “can come back when he is ready for Peace.” “He still wants a deal,” one added.
Navid Kalantari contributed to this report for TROIB News
