The dust has settled on the highly anticipated Oval Office meeting between President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and the verdict is in: Zelenskyy walked in unprepared and walked out humiliated. But his biggest mistake wasn’t just his weak negotiating tactics—it was listening to the wrong people before he ever stepped foot in the room.
The Fallout: A Shift in U.S.-Ukraine Relations
The meeting was a turning point. Trump made it clear that the days of blank-check aid are over, and Zelenskyy was visibly shaken. The U.S. has sent over $183 billion in military assistance to Ukraine, yet when Trump asked for a plan—whether in the form of peace negotiations, economic returns, or strategic cooperation—Zelenskyy had nothing to offer.
Trump’s message was blunt: America doesn’t fund endless wars. Make a deal, or find new allies. Zelenskyy wasn’t ready for this. Why? Because he spent the days leading up to the meeting taking advice from the very people who wanted him to fail.
The Democracy Illusion: Zelenskyy Is No Defender of Freedom
For years, the media has framed Zelenskyy as the last hope for democracy in Eastern Europe. But in reality, he’s no champion of freedom—he’s a wartime autocrat who has jailed political opponents, shut down opposition media, canceled elections, and consolidated power. Under his rule, Ukraine has become more authoritarian, not less. Worse, his decisions have led to the deaths of over a million Ukrainian soldiers and civilians—young men and women sacrificed in a war he refused to negotiate an end to.
Even worse, the Ukraine conflict was never about ‘defending democracy’—it was a massive money laundering operation. Billions flowed through Ukraine while corrupt politicians, defense contractors, and global elites cashed in, leaving U.S. taxpayers footing the bill. Trump recognized the con instantly—he’s dealt with world-class manipulators before, and Zelenskyy was no different. The difference? Biden and the Democrats propped up Zelenskyy’s dictatorship while Trump demanded accountability. The world isn’t dealing with a noble defender of democracy—it’s dealing with a leader who has used war as a pretext to tighten his grip on power while demanding unlimited U.S. aid.
Had Trump been in office, this war never would have escalated to this scale. He would have forced negotiations early, shutting down the endless cycle of aid and corruption. Instead, Biden and the Democrats pushed Ukraine into an unwinnable war, all while ensuring their donors, defense industry cronies, and globalist allies got paid.
Democrats Set Zelenskyy Up for Disaster
New reports confirm that Zelenskyy consulted with anti-Trump Democrats—including Senator Chris Murphy—before his meeting with Trump. Their advice? Reject Trump’s economic proposals and hold the line. In other words, they pushed Zelenskyy to double down on the same failed strategy that had already drained U.S. resources and yielded no results.
Predictably, it backfired. Trump was ready for hardball negotiations, but Zelenskyy, prepped by Democrats, was playing defense. When Trump offered a deal involving Ukraine’s rare earth minerals in exchange for continued support, Zelenskyy hesitated—likely because he’d been warned against making any concessions. That hesitation cost him everything.
Biden vs. Trump: Who Really Abandoned Ukraine?
While the media wants to paint Trump as “harsh” on Ukraine, the reality is that Biden left Zelenskyy in a far worse position. Under Biden, Ukraine was flooded with unchecked aid and false promises—trapped in an unwinnable war, with no strategy, no off-ramp, and no chance at victory. Ukraine was set up to fail—dragged into an unwinnable war and told to keep begging for more. Russia had every strategic advantage—Putin wasn’t losing this war, but Biden pretended otherwise, leaving Ukraine trapped in a conflict it could never win.
Trump’s approach? Stop the senseless bloodshed. Make a deal. Restore peace. Protect the lives of young men and women who should be building their future, not dying on a battlefield. Secure a sustainable path forward. If Zelenskyy had been thinking strategically instead of following Democratic talking points, he could have walked away with a long-term partnership with the U.S. Instead, he walked away empty-handed.
The EU’s Role: A Weak Substitute for U.S. Support
With Trump shutting down the blank-check approach to Ukraine, European leaders scrambled to step up—but reality is setting in: Ukraine is running on borrowed time, and Europe is in no position to replace U.S. support. French President Emmanuel Macron and EU leaders have publicly reaffirmed their backing for Ukraine, but behind closed doors, there are signs of fatigue. Economic pressures, internal political struggles, and the reality of prolonged war have left Europe divided on how much more aid they can commit.
Trump understands this dynamic, and he made it clear to Zelenskyy: Don’t expect the EU to fill America’s shoes.Germany, for example, has already balked at increased military spending, and there’s growing skepticism among European voters about endless support for Ukraine. The EU may talk big, but without U.S. leadership, their ability to sustain Ukraine’s war effort is questionable at best.
If Zelenskyy thinks he can shift reliance onto Europe, he’s in for another rude awakening.
What Comes Next for Zelenskyy?
Zelenskyy has one choice if he wants to maintain U.S. support:
Trump isn’t cutting Ukraine off—he’s demanding accountability. No more blind aid, no more reckless spending—only results. The free ride is over, and the sooner Zelenskyy realizes that, the better his next meeting with Trump will go.
Final Thought: The Next Negotiation Will Define Ukraine’s Future
Zelenskyy got a wake-up call in the Oval Office, but the real question is: Will he accept reality and negotiate, or will he drag Ukraine further into an already lost war? Next time, he better come prepared—because with Trump, there’s no room for weakness, no sympathy for unprepared leaders, and no patience for bad deals. The Art of the Deal isn’t just a book—it’s the playbook for global power, and Zelenskyy better start learning fast if he wants to stay in the game. And next time, he should dress the part—because when you meet the most powerful leader in the free world, you show up ready for business.
About the Author
Wendy Kinney is a devout Christian, legal strategist, attorney, and entrepreneur committed to free speech, financial freedom, and the Constitution. As Founder & CEO of Revere Payments, she protects businesses from financial censorship, ensuring American enterprises remain free.
She speaks truth to power with conviction, standing firm in faith, justice, and the unwavering belief that freedom must always be defended. Her work is rooted in light, guided by principle, and fearless in the fight for truth.
