Picture of the White House in Washington, D.C. from a distance. Promotion of an article about Trump's power play when meeting Zelenskyy

Katie Barr

Power, pressure and performative gratitude – Donald Trump’s meeting with Volodymyr Zelenskyy was less about diplomacy and more about dominance.

The February 28th meeting was promoted as a show of US support for Ukraine amidst ongoing conflict. However, it revealed more about Trump’s transactional approach to foreign policy, which appears to be rooted in personal leverage rather than mutual diplomacy.

While Trump used the meeting as a stage to project his broader foreign policy vision, Vice-President JD Vance insisted that Zelenskyy publicly thank the US for its support. This wasn’t a mere formality; it was a deliberate assertion of control.

But beyond this political pantomime, what was Trump bargaining for? Was this about positioning himself closer to Russia or weakening Ukraine to further his narrative that Biden’s policies had failed? Was he making an example of Zelenskyy to deter future reliance on US aid?

I’d say it was all of the above.

Whilst business-like in his mindset, Trump appears to operate in a way that, in his mind, will “Make America Great Again”. His actions consistently reflect a belief that his brand of leadership is synonymous with the nation’s success and resurgence.

Suit Up Or Shut Up: The Petty War Against Zelenskyy

Trump’s tactics were not just about public humiliation but about reshaping global power dynamics. The president seized his chance to reiterate his claim that Biden had let the war happen. He deflected responsibility while solidifying his stance as the leader who could have prevented the conflict.

Then, Brian Glenn commented on Zelenskyy’s lack of suit. He framed it as a matter of respect, but was this really just about clothing?

By painting Zelenskyy’s military-style attire as a slight against the US, Trump and his allies weaponised optics to undermine him. They portrayed a wartime leader as ungrateful in order to justify withholding support.

Yet Zelenskyy’s choice to wear fatigues is well-known and symbolic—intended to show solidarity with soldiers on the front line and to visually reinforce his country’s ongoing fight for survival.

“Political theatre, designed to diminish Ukraine’s leader”

Leadership requires responsibility, and Trump’s power play demonstrated that he would rather negotiate like a mob boss than a statesman. His “America First” doctrine deprioritised long-standing alliances, treating them as leverage rather than commitments.

Trump has consistently treated diplomacy as a game of control. We have seen this in his approach to NATO, his cosiness with Putin and his infamous 2019 phone call pressuring Zelenskyy to ‘spill the tea’ on Biden.

This meeting followed the same pattern. Political theatre, designed to diminish Ukraine’s leader and, by extension, Ukraine itself. It was about making Zelenskyy acknowledge America’s leverage over him.

That leverage became tangible soon after as the Trump administration suspended the provision of intelligence and military aid to Ukraine. Ukraine, already locked in a war for its survival, now has to fight for its backing from the US too.

Trump’s Foreign Policy And The Art Of Making Friends Beg

If this meeting was a preview of how a second Trump presidency will handle Ukraine, Zelenskyy has every reason to be concerned. Trump and his allies have shown that they view Ukraine as an inconvenience rather than an ally worth defending.

The rhetoric has shifted from supporting democracy to questioning whether backing Ukraine is in America’s interest.

For years, Ukraine has enjoyed the support of the US, with aid framed as both a moral and strategic imperative. But Trump has steadily chipped away at that consensus, turning it into a partisan wedge issue.

Under his leadership, Zelenskyy will have to navigate a minefield of political posturing, power plays and performative gratitude to keep American aid flowing.

When Democracy Becomes A Business Deal

This isn’t just about Ukraine. The way Trump handled this meeting should send warning signals to any US ally that relies on American support. If foreign leaders are expected to grovel for aid, if alliances are treated as conditional rather than commitments, what does this mean for NATO? For Europe, or even America’s global standing?

Putin is watching. China is watching. Every authoritarian regime with territorial ambitions is watching. But the message is clear: American backing isn’t guaranteed, and even the most loyal allies will be forced to prove their worth.

“This meeting should serve as a wake-up call”

Zelenskyy likely walked into this meeting knowing it wouldn’t be easy. He must have been prepared for a challenging negotiation, fully aware that every move would be scrutinized and every concession costly. Still, it’s reasonable to assume that he also knew even the smallest victory could shift the balance in Ukraine’s favour and potentially alter the course of the conflict.

Trump’s tactics, however chaotic, do set a precedent, and the newly elected leaders of Canada and France have already begun adjusting their diplomatic strategies, like parents forging a plan to deal with an unruly child.

The Aftermath

Despite attempts to diminish him, Zelenskyy did not back down. He didn’t apologise for asking for help. In the days following the meeting, he sent a letter to Trump and expressed his gratitude on social media, acknowledging US support. However, Trump appears to want foreign leaders to beg, not just to offer their thanks.

As US support for its allies becomes increasingly transactional, conditional, and subject to political theatre, the world order is set to change.

Now that Trump is back in the White House, this meeting should serve as a wake-up call – not just for Ukraine, but for every nation that has ever relied on America’s promises. It’s a stark reminder that US foreign policy can shift dramatically with a change of leadership and that alliances based on trust and tradition may no longer offer the security they once did.

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Featured image courtesy of Edoardo Cuoghi via Unsplash. No changes were made to this image. Image license can be found here.

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