President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s recent visit to Washington has sparked a firestorm of political debate and renewed questions about Ukraine’s standing in the international arena.
Whether he was ambushed or should have been more diplomatic in his engagement at the Oval Office, the visit was undeniably disastrous for Ukraine. For those watching from Kyiv, the stakes were existential, as the future of their country seemed to hang in the balance.
Among the Ukrainian public, the response to the visit has been mixed but passionate. Standing before Kyiv’s golden-domed St. Sofia’s Cathedral, Yulia, a local resident, expressed her views on the president’s approach. “Maybe it wasn’t diplomatic, but it was sincere. It’s about life. We want to live,” she said. Her words encapsulate a recurring political pattern in Ukraine: the more the nation is attacked, the more its people rally together.
This unity has been reflected in the fluctuating approval ratings of President Zelenskyy. Prior to Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, his trust rating stood at 37%. After the war escalated, it soared to 90%. The political landscape shifted again when Donald Trump returned to office in early 2025. Initially, Zelensky’s approval had settled at 52%, but after Trump publicly blamed Ukraine for starting the war, it rebounded to 65%.
For many Ukrainians, the interaction between Trump and Zelenskyy was a moment of profound frustration. Thirty-year-old Andriy voiced his anger: “They [Trump and JD Vance] were so rude. They don’t respect the people of Ukraine.” Similarly, 26-year-old Dmytro observed, “It looks like Washington supports Russia!” Such sentiments highlight the growing rift between Ukraine and its traditional ally.
Despite these tensions, Zelenskyy’s popularity may see another surge due to what political scientist Volodymyr Paniotto describes as a rally-around-the-flag effect. Historically, world leaders experience declining popularity over time, and Zelenskyy has not been immune to this trend. His ratings suffered following Ukraine’s failed counteroffensive in 2023 and his controversial decision to dismiss the widely respected commander-in-chief, Valeriy Zaluzhnyi, in 2024. Yet, the uncertainty surrounding Trump’s new approach to Ukraine has reignited national unity.
Opposition leaders have also weighed in, expressing shock at the treatment Zelensky received in Washington. Opposition MP Inna Sovsun described the meeting as painful to watch. “It was difficult to see a president who has been a victim of Russian aggression being attacked by the leader of the free world,” she said. Nonetheless, she insists that Ukraine should not abandon negotiations but rather reframe the debate, suggesting a trusted mediator like Italy’s Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, whom both Kyiv and Trump might accept.
One key issue overshadowing the visit was the failed minerals agreement between Ukraine and the United States. Ukrainian media framed this as a minor setback, noting that the agreement lacked the critical American security guarantees that Kyiv and Europe desperately seek. While this deal may not have been essential in the grand scheme of Ukraine’s survival, its rejection signified deeper fractures in U.S.-Ukraine relations.
Amid the fallout, Ukrainian MP Ivanna Klympush-Tsyntsadze acknowledged that she had expected a second Trump presidency to be less sympathetic to Ukraine, but not to this extent. She pointed out that the minerals agreement did not obligate the U.S. to provide military aid or maintain its current level of support, reinforcing concerns about Ukraine’s diplomatic standing.
Despite these challenges, Ukraine’s parliament remains largely united behind Zelenskyy. Calls for his resignation, whether from foreign or domestic actors, are widely rejected. Even his political rival, former President Petro Poroshenko, has supported Zelenskyy’s legitimacy in the face of external pressure. While the two leaders have clashed—Poroshenko was recently sanctioned by Zelenskyy’s government for alleged threats to national security—he recognizes that any perceived instability in Ukrainian leadership only serves to embolden Russia and weaken Ukraine’s position internationally.
As Ukraine braces for an uncertain future, it must navigate the delicate balance between diplomacy and national resilience. While Zelenskyy’s Oval Office visit may have been a setback, it has also reinforced Ukraine’s unwavering determination to chart its own course, regardless of shifting global alliances.
Main Image: https://www.president.gov.ua/
