Zelenskyy's attempt to win over Donald Trump by casting Ukraine as a business deal may backfire and leave the country more vulnerable. Trump's previous record shows that his personal relationships are fleeting and conditional. By tying Ukraine's security to promises of post-war contracts and resource access, Kyiv is essentially mortgaging its future before the war is even won. Trump might demand concessions—such as territorial neutrality or limits on Ukraine's sovereignty—in exchange for continued support. Furthermore, cozying up to Trump could alienate European allies and the bipartisan Ukraine coalition in the US Congress. The very 'trick' being used to lure Trump could undermine the solidarity that has sustained Ukraine. A transactional approach reduces a war of survival to a business negotiation, with unpredictable consequences for Ukraine's independence.
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Warning Against Zelenskyy's Trump Strategy: Risks of a Transactional Trap
Published July 28, 2026 at 7:03 AM UTC