Politico Analysis: Zelensky's Dilemma against Trump, to resist or withdraw? Fear in Kyiv of losing American support

The Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky is facing a difficult dilemma in his relations with Donald Trump: to continue open opposition to the American president's decisions or to avoid a confrontation that could cost Ukraine the vital support of Washington. An analysis published by Politico emphasizes that Trump's announcement about the US supplying Russian oil and plans to ease sanctions against Moscow have caused anger in Kyiv. This comes at a difficult time for Ukraine, which is facing continuous Russian drone and missile attacks as winter approaches. Zelensky has described the agreement foreshadowed by Trump as a "weak decision" and a "betrayal to Putin," arguing that oil revenues could help Russia finance the war. Later, Ukraine authorized new drone attacks against Russian refineries, which provoked a harsh reaction from the American president, who called on Ukrainians to choose a new leader. According to Politico, the main issue for Zelensky is how much public dissatisfaction he can express without jeopardizing relations with Ukraine's most important ally. Tim Willasey-Wilsey, a former diplomat and associate at the United States Institute of Peace (USIP), assesses that the anger of the Ukrainian president is understandable but warns that confrontation with Trump could have negative consequences. According to the analysis, Zelensky might hope that the results of the midterm elections in the US will weaken Trump's political positions, especially since some Republicans have expressed opposition to his approach to the oil agreement. However, there is a risk that the American president might react by limiting support for Ukraine. This could include cutting off intelligence sharing or measures that would affect the functioning of the Starlink satellite service, which is important for the communication of the Ukrainian military. The Trump administration has also threatened to suspend a program through which allied countries purchase American weapons for Ukraine. According to reports from the *Financial Times*, such a decision would cause serious problems in arms supply and would force Kyiv to support even more European partners. Willasey-Wilsey warns that Zelensky might underestimate the risk posed by a politically weakened Trump but is determined to react to opposition. The Ukrainian opposition remains in support of Zelensky. Despite the clashes with Washington, Trump's stance on the Ukrainian president has brought about an unexpected development in Ukraine's domestic politics. Some of Zelensky's opponents have come to his defense, opposing calls for the replacement of the president during wartime. Former president Petro Poroshenko, one of Zelensky's main political rivals, declared that if anyone needs a new leader, it is Russia. Poroshenko emphasized that the main criterion for evaluating any decision should be whether it leads the country towards a complete and unconditional peace. Even opposition lawmaker Mykola Knyazhytsky argued that Trump's pressure is affecting the increase in support for Zelensky, both within Ukraine and among European allies. However, in Kyiv, concerns remain that the American president's efforts to reach an agreement with Moscow could come at the expense of Ukraine's interests. Ivan Klybush-Tsinchandze, an opposition lawmaker and former deputy prime minister, expressed doubts that Vladimir Putin is ready to make compromises to end the war. According to her, the proposals discussed between American and Russian negotiators risk leading to conditions that will undermine Ukraine's independence and sovereignty. **Zelensky: Attacks stop only if Russian attacks stop too** Despite the pressure, the Ukrainian president has not shown any signs of backing down from his position. He has stated that Ukraine will only stop attacks against Russian oil refineries if Moscow stops air attacks against Ukrainian territory. "Every step to reduce tensions must be mutual," Zelensky wrote on Telegram. Thus, the Ukrainian president is faced with two difficult alternatives: to maintain his position against Russia, risking the deterioration of relations with Trump, or to make concessions to maintain American support. According to the Politico analysis, none of these paths is without a cost for Kyiv, and the future of American support remains one of the most important factors for Ukraine's ability to continue its defense.