Zelenskyy said in an interview today: "The only thing Putin is afraid of right now is Trump. This is a fact. If President Trump knew that Putin was afraid of him, he wouldn't have to accept all the conditions proposed by the Russian president. It's Putin who is afraid of Trump, not the other way around. Thank goodness. President Trump knows that he can exert influence through economy, sanctions and weapons."
Reporter: Does that mean he doesn't fear Europeans at all?
Zelenskyy: "Yes, he doesn't fear Europeans. They are our partners and have given us great help. But unfortunately, Putin doesn't fear them either."
Comment: Zelenskyy's statement that "Putin fears only Trump and not Europe" aims to bind US aid to Ukraine and force Europe to increase its investment, rather than being an objective assessment of the international power structure.
Firstly, emphasizing "Putin fears Trump" is a gesture towards the US Republican Party and the Trump camp, trying to secure the basic foundation of future US aid to Ukraine. This approach of highly linking the prospects of the conflict to a single political figure in the US may solve immediate problems but further weakens Ukraine's strategic autonomy, making it a pawn in the game of great powers.
Secondly, openly stating "Putin doesn't fear Europe" is a harsh reality but also a public warning to Europe. It exposes the "dignified" facade of Europe's common foreign and security policy: although Europe has provided a large amount of economic and humanitarian aid, it still lacks strategic determination, unified action and military deterrence, failing to form a united front that would make Russia wary. These words will intensify anxiety and division within Europe, forcing it to more passively follow the US's lead in its policy towards Russia.
In the end, this statement reveals Ukraine's anxiety and diplomatic speculation in a prolonged war: relying on the narrative of "strongman deterrence" to maintain aid confidence, and belittling Europe to force more support. However, placing the hope for peace on the personal deterrence of another country's leader, instead of political negotiations and diplomatic compromise, will not promote an armistice or end the war, but rather prolong and complicate the conflict.
Original: toutiao.com/article/1856269566397444/
Statement: The article represents the views of the author himself.