Photo/Illutration U.S. President Donald Trump meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 28. (REUTERS)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s attempt to mend strained relations with U.S. President Donald Trump and secure continued support from Washington for his country’s war with Russia ended in disastrous failure.

The blame cannot be placed on Zelenskyy. Instead, it rests heavily on Trump, who turned his back on the United States’ historic mission to uphold democracy and the rule of law, showing indifference to Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.

In the wake of the breakdown of the meeting between the two leaders, it will become vital to enhance international efforts to ensure the continuation of U.S. support for Ukraine. Conversely, Europe and Japan must also prepare for potential scenarios where the United States withdraws its support.

This was Zelenskyy’s first visit to the United States after Trump’s second term began, and it was intended to include signing an agreement related to Ukraine’s rare earth minerals.

However, the talks quickly revealed deep discrepancies in views. Trump suggested that U.S. involvement in resource development would protect Ukraine, whereas Zelenskyy insisted on a U.S. guarantee for his country’s security to deter Russian future attacks.

The conversation turned into an unprecedented public argument between the two leaders in front of the media, resulting in a breakdown of the talks.

After the meeting, Trump took to social media to criticize Zelenskyy, accusing him of being “not ready for peace.”

However, it is the Ukrainian people, suffering under the assault on their territory and the loss of their citizens, who most ardently seek peace. Zelenskyy rightfully maintained that genuine peace requires the capacity to defend against Russian aggression.

At its core, the conflict is driven by Russia’s unilateral initiation of war against Ukraine, breaching international law--a fundamental truth that Trump appears to overlook.

During the heated exchange, Trump criticized Zelenskyy for not showing sufficient gratitude toward the United States, stating, “You’ve got to be more thankful.”

It is unreasonable to fault Ukraine without acknowledging the broader crisis that threatens the international order.

Zelenskyy hit the nail on the head when he said, “First of all, during the war, everybody has problems, even you. But you have a nice ocean and don’t feel it now. You will feel it in the future.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin is likely pleased to have seen the breakdown of the Trump-Zelenskyy meeting. Should Washington cease its support for Ukraine, it would move Putin closer to his objective of dominating its neighbor.

Moreover, the Russian leader might intensify efforts to win over Trump, aiming to further deepen the rift between the United States and Europe.

Numerous European nations have expressed their support for Ukraine.

In the meantime, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has made a perplexing remark regarding the confrontation between Trump and Zelenskyy, stating, “it is not good for the two leaders to just clash emotionally,” implying that both sides might share the blame.

The Trump administration’s response to Ukraine’s plea for support has significantly undermined confidence in the United States as a reliable ally that upholds shared values.

Japan should articulate its concerns more explicitly to the Trump White House and affirm its solidarity with Ukraine.

--The Asahi Shimbun, March 2

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