Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has arrived in Washington at a moment when his country’s fate is being decided not in Kyiv, but in foreign capitals. As Daily Press notes, after the Trump–Putin summit in Alaska, the United States no longer insists on an immediate ceasefire but instead pushes Kyiv to move quickly toward a peace plan. This leaves Zelensky cornered, with almost no room to maneuver.
Washington dictates, Moscow insists
Donald Trump makes no secret of his expectations: Ukraine must make “hard choices.” He went so far as to say that Zelensky could end the war “almost immediately” if he accepted the Kremlin’s terms – giving up eastern territories, recognizing Crimea as Russian once and for all, and abandoning hopes of NATO membership. Putin is presenting his demands with cold clarity, while Trump, instead of pressuring Moscow, is effectively pressuring Kyiv. “Some things never change,” the U.S. president declared, shutting the door on Ukraine’s hopes for a complete victory.
Europe sidelined, Kyiv in turmoil
Zelensky is not alone in Washington – NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and Finnish President Alexander Stubb accompany him – yet their leverage in the White House is symbolic at best. Europe is a spectator, not a power broker. Meanwhile, tensions at home are escalating. Ukrainian society firmly rejects territorial concessions, while protests against the president’s moves against anti-corruption agencies are undermining his legitimacy. More and more Ukrainians are asking whether Zelensky is still the leader who once promised victory at any cost.
Daily Press stresses that the moment is historic. Should Zelensky agree to a deal with Russia, he risks being branded a traitor at home. Should he refuse, he faces confrontation with Trump and the potential loss of decisive American military and financial support. It is a chessboard on which the Ukrainian president has no good moves left. The hours before the next round of talks in Washington may prove fatal – not only for his political career but also for Ukraine’s very future.
And while Donald Trump promises a “great day,” in Kyiv and Brussels the prevailing sentiment is betrayal. Zelensky is on the edge of collapse, and with him, the entire Western front against the Kremlin.
Expert scenarios
Analysts warn that if Zelensky accepts Moscow’s conditions, it will set a dangerous precedent. Russia would prove that aggression yields territorial rewards, encouraging the Kremlin to repeat this playbook against other neighbors. Ukraine would not gain lasting peace, only a pause before another strike. In this scenario, Kyiv risks losing not only land but also the trust of its own citizens, who overwhelmingly oppose any concessions.
The other hypothesis is that Zelensky could defy Trump outright, relying on European capitals and domestic public opinion. But this path carries immense risks. The United States remains Ukraine’s largest military and financial backer. If the White House cuts off aid, the front could collapse within months. Europe would then be forced to fill the gap – a task for which it has neither the resources nor the political unity.
