Ukrainians back Zelenski after a catastrophic meeting of the White House

Whether President Volodimir Zelenski was planted or had not had to be more dislodus in the oval office, it was a catastrophic visit to Ukraine.

For those who look in Kyiv, the future of their country hung in balance.

“It was an emotional conversation, but I understand our president,” Julia tells me to St. Sofia’s Cathedral of Kiev.

“It may not have been diplomatic, but it was sincere. It’s for life, we want to live.”

Julia reflects a political model in Ukraine: the more the country is attacked, the more unity there is.

Prior to the full -scale invasion of 2022, the Rating of President Zelenski’s confidence was 37%. It is then rocket up to 90%.

Before Donald Trump returned to office in early 2025, he was 52%. After accusing Ukraine of starting the war, it reached 65%.

“They (Donald Trump and JD Vance) were so rude,” says 30-year-old Andrius. “They don’t respect the people of Ukraine.”

“It seems that Washington supports Russia!” Observes DMYTRO, 26.

You wonder what the last 24 hours of President Zelenski’s popularity have done.

“When the situation gets worse, we have another gathering around the flag,” explains Volodimir Panat, director of the International Institute of Sociology of Kiev, who held part of the poll.

The popularity of world leaders is often decreasing over time, and Panata says that President Zelenski was not immunized.

His estimates were especially hit by the unsuccessful counteraction of Ukraine in 2023, and his dismissal a year later to the popular commander of his main armed forces Valerie stunned.

But the new, transactional, often hosting approach of Donald Trump to Ukraine forced the country to unite and prepare for further uncertainty.

Last but not least with its warming to Russia.

The initial reaction was that of shock, “says opposition MP Ina Sovsun.

“It was difficult to watch a president who is a victim of Russian aggression attacked by the leader of the free world,” she adds. “It’s painful.”

Ukrainian television channels report yesterday’s scenes in a more precious way: that minerals are dealing between Ukraine and the United States is simply not signed.

Perhaps, given that this did not include US guarantees of security that Kiev and Europe desperately want, it was not as striking for Zelenski as suggested.

“We need to find stronger allies in Europe and Canada, Australia and Japan, which all support us,” Sovos said.

There are obviously deep feelings of resentment between Washington and Kyiv. However, Sobsun does not believe that Ukraine should give up negotiations, but instead should reshape the debate.

“It’s important to find the right mediator,” she says. “Some Trump can recognize, but someone we also trust. Someone like Georgia Meloni from Italy.

“In no case should we agree to urge the president to resign and say that as a member of the opposition. This refutes the very idea of ​​democracy.”

President Zelenski hoped his visit to Washington would lead to a more in-depth cooperation with the United States, which in turn could bring lasting peace. Something Sovos thinks that no one wants more than Ukrainians.

“We are the ones who suffer, it is extremely difficult to live under this stress,” she adds. “It was this morning that I read that my friend’s son was killed, his second son in this war.”

What the MP and countless Ukrainians do not want is a hasty agreement. An attempt to end the fire with Russia in 2014 and 2015 only allowed Moscow to prepare for its complete invasion of the scale years later.

“We knew it would be difficult, it’s just not that difficult.”

Ukrainian MP Ivan Klimpush-Tsintsadze envisaged a second Presidency of Trump to be less sympathetic to the cause of his country, but not to this extent.

“This mineral agreement does not oblige America to help us military or increase or continue the support it is currently giving,” she says.

Although there is still a parliamentary unity behind President Zelenski and terminated the elections, MPs such as Klimpush-Tsintsadze are calling for greater participation in the negotiations.

The chairman of her European Solidarity Party is former President Petro Poroshenko, a fierce rival of Zelenski.

He was even recently sanctioned by Ukraine’s leader because of what Ukraine for security was referred to as “national security threats” and “creating obstacles to economic development”. Poroshenko said he was “politically motivated”.

However, the former president said he acknowledges Zelenski’s legitimacy as a leader to fight both US and Russian claims otherwise.

As the sirens shout and rockets collide in the cities, it is a war that is still raging, despite all the talk of its termination.

Russia is not inferior to its demands for the political surrender of Ukraine and the full control of four regions.

“This war is not for any area, city or grass to the east,” says Taras Chmut, head of the Come Foundation.

After Russia invaded the Crimea in 2014, the organization was set up for Crowdsors’ military equipment to combat Ukrainian troops.

“This is the war that will define the world order for future decades. Whether this world will still exist depends on how this war goes,” he says.

While mercilessly pursuing its America’s first policy, Trump wants Europe to provide security to a continent where it is less ready to do so. But Europe is divided into this and when there is an agreement that peace is not possible without the United States as a safety net.

“Europe and the world again want to close their eyes and believe in a miracle, but the miracles do not happen,” says Gn Chmut.

“The parties must accept the reality of the situation and do something about it. Otherwise you will be the one who will disappear then – after Ukraine.”

Additional reporting by Hannah Hormual and Svitna Libet.