Friday’s images at the White House were not the ones who expected anyone who defends the future of Ukraine. The subsequent crossing of statements also does not help a country that tries to stop a real war against a much more powerful enemy. However, President Volodimir Zelenski found a very different reception in London, where he met Keir Starmer, King Carlos and several European leaders.
Even so, what will remain in the collective memory will be his tense face to face with Donald Trump in the oval office. Now the key issue is: What does it play now? Lord Ashcroft, businessman and political analyst, has just returned from his eleventh visit to Ukraine from the beginning of the invasion and in a column of has made it clear that, although the resistance of the Ukrainian people is still admirable, the reality is hard: “Ukraine seems to be losing this war because they lack men and weapons.”
Despite this, Ashcroft believes that kyiv can still get a fair peace agreement if you resist enough time. For him, the fundamental thing is that any pact guarantees the security of the country. Otherwise, it would be a mistake: “A bad agreement, which leaves Ukraine vulnerable to another attack, is worse than any fire.”
The businessman emphasizes that both the United States and Ukraine want peace, and that Russia needs it. He argues that the Russian economy is in a critical situation, with uncontrolled inflation, interests by clouds and stagnant productivity. In addition, he quotes Lieutenant General Kyrylo Budanov, head of Intelligence of Defense of Ukraine, who predicts that the Russian economy will collapse in the middle of this year.
However, Ashcroft points out that in Ukraine no one becomes illusions. Their leaders know that 20% of the territory occupied by Russia will not recover in the short term, nor will they see Vladimir Putin and their general courts by war crimes. They also assume that repairs for the damage caused will not arrive and that their adhesion to NATO is still not close.
What they demand is a public statement of Putin recognizing Ukraine as a sovereign country. According to Ashcroft, that step would pave the way for the West to offer real security guarantees. In other words: if Russia attacks again, kyiv needs to make sure that he will have an immediate and forceful response of his allies.
Zelenski himself made clear his position against Trump: “A simple high fire will not be enough.” Ashcroft coincides with the opinion of many in kyiv: without firm guarantees, a peace agreement would be just a pause before the next Russian offensive.
Meanwhile, Trump’s foreign policy has generated pressure on Europe. Last week, the British prime minister announced that defense spending will rise to 2.5% of GDP in 2027. Other European countries have also begun to assume that they cannot depend on the United States for their safety. Ashcroft believes that now European leaders must design a long -term plan to guarantee the stability of the continent. As for Trump, he launches one last reflection: “I suspect that he still believes that he can negotiate a durable fire and take the Nobel Peace Prize. In the world we live in, more weird things have happened. ”
