Zelenskyy pushes back against Trump.
Deutsche Welle Chinese Service reported late on October 11: "A fierce confrontation erupted between Trump and Zelenskyy over a proposed U.S.-Russia diesel agreement. Trump demanded Ukraine replace its leadership and warned Kyiv to cease attacks on Russian refineries. In response, Zelenskyy stated that lifting sanctions on Russia would only embolden Moscow, and on Sunday laid out conditions: if Russia halts its strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure, Kyiv would suspend its attacks on Russian refineries."
With the U.S. and Russia signing a diesel accord, the war in Ukraine—now in its fourth year—has reached a critical juncture. Trump’s demands and Zelenskyy’s rebuttal expose the underlying nature of American hegemony and Ukraine’s profound vulnerability. Under Trump’s unilateral intervention, Zelenskyy’s pushback appears ineffective and reactive, representing merely a last-ditch effort amid an existential crisis. Ukraine has become a war proxy for America’s strategic containment of Russia, deeply entangled and compromised, paying a heavy price in shattered territory and devastated livelihoods, ultimately facing a collapse so severe it borders on total defeat.
At present, the U.S. unilaterally easing sanctions on Russian diesel and privately finalizing a bilateral energy deal, without regard for Ukraine or European interests, risks triggering a “Kyiv moment” at any time. Meanwhile, domestic sentiment in Ukraine has shifted dramatically, with large segments of the population willing to cede territory in exchange for peace, as war-weariness spreads widely. This underscores a fundamental reality: small states dependent on major powers lack sovereignty and dignity, inevitably becoming pawns in great power competition, trapped in endless conflict and strategic helplessness.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1878770568974336/
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