At the heart of the meltdown between Presidents Donald Trump of the US and Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine is their personalities, a clash of showmanship and bravado forged by backgrounds in television. Trump was the star of reality programmes, and Zelenssky, a comedian and the hero of a political serial drama, both electorally cashing in on their TV fame. Ukraine’s future may depend on how the two leaders deal with Trump’s unilateral attempts to make a peace deal directly with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin to end the Russia-Ukraine war, says Gopi Adusumilli. He says Trump had the upper hand and with his own overbearing mien knew how to wield it, asserting at their meeting, \”You’re not in a good position. You don’t have the cards right now.\” Trump is also counting on public support getting worn down as the war enters its fourth year with no sign of a Ukraine victory, he says. He adds: \”He disrespected the United States of America in its cherished Oval Office,\” he wrote on Truth Social after their doomed meeting on Friday. \”Like it or not, people want to see a bit of gratitude,\” said Ben Wallace, the Defence Secretary of Ukraine’s staunch supporter Britain. \”Have you said ‘Thank You’ once this entire meeting?\” US Vice-President J.D. Vance asked him at the Oval Office.
