President Donald Trump’s time in office since being sworn in January has been full of bold, often controversial foreign policy decisions. Two of his most complex and talked-about relationships were with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
These ties, marked by tension, skepticism, and strategic maneuvering, played a big role in shaping the course of the Russia-Ukraine conflict and America’s role on the world stage. Let’s dive in and break it down.
Trump’s Affinity for Putin
At the core of Trump’s foreign policy approach was a strong and unwavering belief in the importance of direct, personal relationships with world leaders. His bond with Putin, in particular, has been one of the most scrutinized aspects of his presidency.
Trump often spoke highly of the Russian leader, emphasizing their unique connection, a stance that sparked alarm among many in the US and abroad. His admiration for Putin seemed at odds with the actions of US intelligence agencies, which had firmly concluded that Russia was responsible for meddling in the 2016 US presidential election.
Trump’s insistence on downplaying Russian interference was apparent from the very beginning of his presidency.
Despite the overwhelming evidence from US intelligence agencies, he repeatedly undermined the notion that Russia was behind the election hacking.
In 2018, at a joint press conference with Putin in Helsinki, Trump famously sided with the Russian president, casting doubt on the conclusions of his own intelligence community. His comments, including “I don’t see any reason why it would be” Russia, echoed a broader pattern of denial and deflection regarding Russia’s involvement.
President Donald Trump’s time in office since being sworn in January has been full of bold, often controversial foreign policy decisions. Two of his most complex and talked-about relationships were with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
These ties, marked by tension, skepticism, and strategic maneuvering, played a big role in shaping the course of the Russia-Ukraine conflict and America’s role on the world stage. Let’s dive in and break it down.
Trump’s Affinity for Putin
At the core of Trump’s foreign policy approach was a strong and unwavering belief in the importance of direct, personal relationships with world leaders. His bond with Putin, in particular, has been one of the most scrutinized aspects of his presidency.
Trump often spoke highly of the Russian leader, emphasizing their unique connection, a stance that sparked alarm among many in the US and abroad. His admiration for Putin seemed at odds with the actions of US intelligence agencies, which had firmly concluded that Russia was responsible for meddling in the 2016 US presidential election.
Trump’s insistence on downplaying Russian interference was apparent from the very beginning of his presidency.
Despite the overwhelming evidence from US intelligence agencies, he repeatedly undermined the notion that Russia was behind the election hacking.
In 2018, at a joint press conference with Putin in Helsinki, Trump famously sided with the Russian president, casting doubt on the conclusions of his own intelligence community. His comments, including “I don’t see any reason why it would be” Russia, echoed a broader pattern of denial and deflection regarding Russia’s involvement.
Trump’s rhetoric was not just diplomatic missteps but also a reflection of his frustration with the ongoing investigation into the Russian interference, which he consistently branded as a “hoax” and a “witch hunt.”
The Mueller Investigation and Russia’s Election Interference
The investigation, led by Special Counsel Robert Mueller, eventually concluded that Russia did, in fact, interfere in the 2016 election, but there was insufficient evidence to prove direct collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia.
Despite this, Trump’s combative stance towards the investigation colored his perception of Russia, and his alliance with Putin became emblematic of his broader skepticism towards American intelligence and foreign policy consensus.
Trump’s Tensions with Zelenskyy and Ukraine
Trump’s relationship with Zelenskyy and Ukraine was equally fraught, though for different reasons.
While his bond with Putin was built on shared interests and mutual admiration, his dealings with Zelenskyy were deeply marked by suspicion, personal grievances, and a significant political scandal.
In 2019, Trump famously placed a call to Zelenskyy in which he pressured the Ukrainian president to investigate Joe Biden, a political rival.
“I would like you to do us a favor though because our country has been through a lot and Ukraine knows a lot about it. I would like you to find out what happened with this whole situation with Ukraine, they say Crowdstrike… I guess you have one of your wealthy people… The server, they say Ukraine has it. There are a lot of things that went on, the whole situation. I think you’re surrounding yourself with some of the same people. I would lik e to have the Attorney General call you or your people and I would like you to get to the bottom of it. As you saw yesterday, that whole nonsense ended with a very poor performance by a man named Robert Mueller, an incompetent performance, but they say a lot of it started with Ukraine. Whatever you can do, it’s very important that you do it if that’s possible.”
—an excerpt of Trump’s phone conversation with Volodymyr Zelenskyy, cited from CNN Politics, September 26, 2019.
The call, in which Trump requested Zelenskyy to “do us a favor,” quickly became the center of a whistleblower complaint and led to Trump’s first impeachment.
The fallout from the phone call was significant.
Not only did it strain US-Ukraine relations, but it also prompted concerns about US foreign policy being wielded for personal political gain.
Further complicating matters, Trump temporarily withheld military aid to Ukraine, a move that only heightened tensions with the Ukrainian government, which was engaged in a desperate fight against Russian aggression on its borders.
Although Congress intervened to release the aid, the episode left a lasting scar on the relationship between Trump and Zelenskyy, one that was compounded by Trump’s unfounded claims that Ukraine, not Russia, was responsible for the 2016 election interference.
The White House Fallout: A Public Spat with Zelenskyy
These tensions culminated in a public spat between Trump and Zelenskyy during a recent White House meeting, in which Trump called Zelenskyy “disrespectful” after the Ukrainian leader expressed doubts about the possibility of an immediate peace deal to end the war in Ukraine.
The fallout was immediate and significant, with Zelenskyy leaving Washington without securing a crucial minerals deal that Trump had suggested could help bring an end to the war.
The US-Ukraine relationship, already fragile under Trump, appeared to be on the verge of collapse, with Trump publicly stating that Zelenskyy was not welcome back until he was “ready for Peace.”
Watch the full meeting between President Trump, VP Vance, and Ukrainian President Zelensky in the Oval Office below.
The Impact on US-Ukraine Relations and Global Diplomacy
While the immediate consequences of this diplomatic breakdown were clear, the long-term implications remain to be seen.
Zelenskyy, in a series of posts on social media, thanked the American people, Trump, and Congress for their support.
We are very grateful to the United States for all the support. I’m thankful to President Trump, Congress for their bipartisan support, and American people. Ukrainians have always appreciated this support, especially during these three years of full-scale invasion. pic.twitter.com/Z9FlWjF101
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) March 1, 2025
However, the European leaders, including British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, voiced their support for Ukraine in the aftermath of the White House conflict.
Meanwhile, Russian officials, sensing an opportunity, were quick to capitalize on the discord, recognizing a potential shift in US policy that could bring an end to the American aid that has been crucial to Ukraine’s defense.
The Global Shifts Under Trump’s Presidency
The clash between Trump and Zelenskyy also highlighted the broader geopolitical shifts that occurred during Trump’s presidency. His rejection of US foreign policy norms, particularly regarding Russia’s actions in Ukraine, created a rift not only between the US and Ukraine but also between the US and its European allies.
In a dramatic reversal, the US refused to blame Russia for its invasion of Ukraine in votes on UN resolutions, further alienating American allies and emboldening Moscow.
Trump’s relationships with both Putin and Zelenskyy underscore the complexity of his foreign policy approach. His personal affinity for Putin and his efforts to downplay Russian interference in the 2016 election stood in stark contrast to his combative stance towards Ukraine, a country that was fighting a war on its own soil.
These tensions left an indelible mark on US-Ukraine relations and shaped the course of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
Conclusion: A Complex Legacy of Diplomacy
As the war in Ukraine continues and the global political landscape evolves, the legacy of Trump’s foreign policy and his relationships with both Zelenskyy and Putin will remain a critical point of analysis for historians and policymakers alike.
The intricacies of these strained relationships offer valuable insights into the broader challenges of US diplomacy, where personal animosities, political interests, and international alliances often collide in unpredictable ways.
This article includes reporting from the Associated Press and CNN.
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