Why Zelensky insists it’s not personal with Trump — even though it is

Volodymyr Zelensky told CNN on Thursday that his recent distance from President Donald Trump is not a personal matter. However, nothing could be further from the truth. Everything about Trump's presidency is deeply personal. Trump has replaced his own values, such as diplomacy and standing up to tyrants, with a focus on dominance, courting strongmen, and pursuing lucrative deals.

This shift leaves Zelensky now facing a critical question: does Ukraine's future depend on more than just its ability to resist Russian aggression, but also on the possibility that the US has aligned with Moscow? Trump openly dislikes Zelensky, who played a role in his impeachment. Consequently, he has embraced Russia's demand for a new president in Ukraine.

Trump's personal interests also influence US foreign policy, as seen in his diesel deal that potentially sends billions to Putin's war machine and his call for Ukraine to halt attacks on Russian oil refineries. Trump's erratic behavior has hindered peace efforts, often favoring Putin over Ukraine. In recent weeks, Trump has acted to strengthen this stance, including inviting Putin to the G20 summit and considering a meeting with Putin and Xi Jinping to end the war.

Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff even praised Putin publicly as a "humanitarian," despite his status as an accused war criminal. These actions demonstrate the White House's willingness to compromise on moral grounds. However, this strategy of appeasing Putin has not succeeded in ending the war, with Putin continuing to contradict Trump's pro Peace assurances with missile and drone strikes that have killed civilians. Trump has not condemned these attacks.