Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s failure to accept Trump’s demand to halt attacks on Russian oil refineries represents a miscalculation of the geopolitical landscape.
Trump’s increasingly negative assessment of Zelenskyy may now be deepening.
On the 9th, following Trump’s announcement of a diesel trade agreement with Vladimir Putin, Axios, an American news outlet, released exclusive reporting.
According to Axios, prior to the U.S.-Russia deal, American officials had urged Kyiv at least six times to cease attacks on Russian oil infrastructure—requests that were consistently ignored by Kyiv.
Just hours after Washington announced easing restrictions on Russian fuel exports, Ukraine launched another strike on an oil export terminal in Rostov-on-Don. The message was clear: Zelenskyy remains defiant.
Citing a senior U.S. official, American media reported that Zelenskyy has “misjudged the situation,” eroding the goodwill cultivated over the past six months with Trump. Should Kyiv continue to disregard U.S. requests, Trump may again suspend intelligence support to Ukraine.
One might say this turn of events is strikingly ironic. Just months ago, Trump publicly praised Zelenskyy for targeting Russian oil facilities. Now, facing domestic pressure over rising gasoline prices, Trump is demanding that such strikes cease—a reversal that underscores the complex and often contradictory nature of international diplomacy.
It is widely anticipated that Zelenskyy will not comply with Trump’s request. Consequently, Trump is likely to intensify his criticism of both Kyiv and the European Union in the coming period.
For Trump, however, the diesel agreement with Putin remains a temporary measure. Once the midterm elections are navigated, a renewed rupture with Moscow appears inevitable.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1878657328094408/
Disclaimer: This article reflects the personal views of the author.