Written by Nathaniel Brooks.
As the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion looms on February 24, 2025, Ukraine braces for a somber milestone, its people gripped by tension reminiscent of the war’s outset—not just from Moscow’s relentless pressure, but from a startling shift in its once-steadfast ally, the United States. President Donald Trump’s recent verbal assaults on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, branding him a “dictator” and pushing for a swift end to the conflict, have unexpectedly rallied a fractured nation around its leader. For Americans watching this unfold—or Ukrainians enduring the fallout—this surge in unity underscores a resilience Trump’s rhetoric inadvertently fuels.
Trump’s Critique and Ukraine’s Response
Trump’s salvo came this week, falsely labeling Zelenskyy a dictator who sparked the war with Russia—a claim echoing Vladimir Putin’s narrative. Speaking days before the invasion’s anniversary, he signaled a desire to halt the fighting on terms Zelenskyy and Western allies deem too lenient toward Moscow. This follows reports of U.S.-Russian talks in Saudi Arabia—sans Ukraine—stoking fears of a sidelined Kyiv. “He’s not a perfect president, but he’s not a dictator,” said Kateryna Karaush, a 25-year-old tech worker from Kyiv, capturing a sentiment hardening even among Zelenskyy’s critics.
That unity’s no small feat. Three years of war—over 500,000 casualties, 3.7 million displaced—had frayed Ukraine’s early cohesion, reviving political rifts. Yet, Trump’s jab flipped the script. Yaroslav Zhelezniak, a Holos party lawmaker, bristled, “Only Ukrainian citizens have the right to judge his support,” a defense from an opposition voice. For a farmer in Kharkiv, battered by shelling, this feels personal—Trump’s words sting, but they’ve forged a shield around Zelenskyy.
War’s Toll and Shifting U.S. Stance
Ukraine’s grit shines against grim odds. With U.S. aid—$175 billion since 2022—its 800,000-strong forces held Russia to 20% of its land, a feat once unthinkable. But exhaustion creeps in; 10 million fled or displaced, cities like Mariupol rubble. Trump’s pivot—echoing Putin’s election call, shunning Zelenskyy—darkens the mood. Thursday’s canceled press conference with Trump’s Ukraine envoy, post-talks, underscores the chill. “It feels like the whole world is against us,” Karaush said, a sentiment a Kyiv poll backs—57% trust Zelenskyy, per the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology’s February 4-9 survey.
The U.S. shift jars. Congress—Democrats and some GOP—poured billions into Ukraine’s fight, yet Trump’s “dictator” tag and Vice President JD Vance’s rebuke of Zelenskyy’s disinformation warnings signal a fraying bond. For a vet in Ohio who cheered that aid, it’s a head-scratcher—Trump’s about-face trades allyship for deal-making, leaving soldiers like one near Kharkiv vowing, “No shells? We’ll take up rifles. No rifles? We’ll grab shovels.”
Trump’s ceasefire push—terms undisclosed—looms over a front where Russia’s edge in men and guns grinds Ukraine down. Zelenskyy’s foes rally, not retreat—unity trumps division, for now.
Elections Debate and Strategic Stakes
Trump’s Wednesday echo of Putin—“Zelenskyy must hold elections”—flops in Ukraine. Zelenskyy legally delayed last year’s vote under martial law, a move opposition figures like Volodymyr Ariev of European Solidarity back. “Elections now would only benefit the Kremlin,” Ariev said, eyeing division and a Moscow-friendly successor. Adviser Mykhailo Podolyak flagged interference risks—3.7 million abroad, 1.5 million in occupied zones, 800,000 troops—logistics a nightmare. “Devastating,” warned Kyiv-Mohyla professor Valerii Pekar, if peace lags votes.
For a displaced welder in Poland, voting’s a pipe dream—Russia’s grip on 20% of Ukraine locks out millions. Troops can’t campaign—law guarantees it—weakening defenses if they ballot. Pekar’s “elections first, then peace” jab at Trump and Russia nails it—Kyiv holds firm, unity surging as Trump’s barbs backfire.
Our Take
Trump’s denigration of Zelenskyy as a “dictator” misfires—Ukraine’s rallied, not reeled, a testament to grit over three brutal years. His false start-of-war claim and election push—Putin’s playbook—ignite unity even Zelenskyy’s foes embrace; 57% trust holds firm. For Americans who backed $175 billion in aid—like that Ohio vet—it’s a gut check on a flipped ally. Soldiers with shovels defy Trump’s terms—resolve trumps rhetoric.
Yet, Trump’s gambit dims hope. Saudi talks sans Kyiv hint at a deal ceding too much—20% lost stays lost if he bends. Unity’s surge is real, but war’s toll—500,000 gone—needs more than morale; U.S. wobble could break it. Trump stokes defiance now—long-term, it’s a lifeline Ukraine can’t bank on.
