What would happen if Donald Trump forces Ukraine to a truce with Russia?
Last Updated: 24.06.2025 16:00
A betrayal by the U.S. — after Ukraine gave up its nuclear weapons to Russia in 1990s, being coerced by the U.S. under promises of “security guarantees” — wouldn’t be taken lightly by the nation that have heroically resisted a full-scale invasion by the mightiest Eurasian power for nearly 1,000 days. No one in Ukraine would forget “a knife in the back” — no one in Europe would either.
Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelenskyy met Donald Trump in his status of presidential candidate at the end of September 2024.
In 2.5 years of the full-scale war against Russia, Ukraine became “one of Europe's strongest military powers” — in his Victory Plan, Zelenskyy proposed that post-war, Ukrainian forces could be used to ensure the security of Europe. Trump many times stated the need for Europe to step up its security efforts and desire to decrease the need for American troops in Europe — Zelenskyy offered a way.
Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine relies on “continued strong bipartisan support” in the U.S. and is “interested in developing mutually beneficial political and economic cooperation”, advantageous for both nations.
The flip side of Ukraine’s having a mighty and experienced military force is that unless it’s on the side of the North Atlantic Alliance (which Ukraine has been aspiring to join for decades), it can only be on the side of Russia.
What is going to happen with Ukraine will be decided by the Ukrainians.
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Point here, Zelenskyy isn’t a dictator in Ukraine. He’s expressing the wishes, hopes and aspirations of Ukrainians.
Today, as the news on the U.S. election results arrived, Zelenskyy posted a message, congratulating Trump on scoring the 2nd presidential term.
“I recall our great meeting with President Trump back in September, when we discussed in detail the Ukraine-U.S. strategic partnership, the Victory Plan, and ways to put an end to Russian aggression against Ukraine,” recalled Zelenskyy.
I’m not even talking whether it would be possible to “force Ukraine to a truce with Russia” — there are multiple potential scenarios if something like this was attempted.
With that, Zelenskyy said that he appreciates “President Trump’s commitment to the ‘peace through strength’ approach in global affairs”, stating it was “exactly the principle that can practically bring just peace in Ukraine closer”.