What Next | Daily News and Analysis Zelensky Brings a Posse to Washington
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Aug 19, 2025 Tim Mak, editor of the Kyiv-based publication The Counteroffensive, discusses the complex dynamics of Volodymyr Zelensky's recent visit to Washington amidst the Ukraine-Russia conflict. He highlights Ukrainians' rising concerns over American political shifts, especially after Trump’s meeting with Zelensky. The conversation dives into the geopolitical turmoil Ukraine faces, examining the implications of U.S. foreign policy inconsistencies and the critical nature of territorial integrity and security commitments in preserving Ukraine's sovereignty.
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Rhetoric Without Action
- Tim Mak argues Trump's pro-Ukraine rhetoric has largely been rhetoric without substantive action.
- He says statements supporting Ukraine have not been backed by concrete policy or sanctions.
Peace Framing Mirrors Russian Goals
- Mak says Trump's shift from ceasefire to a permanent peace mirrors Moscow's framing and adopts Russian talking points.
- He warns that ceding territory is strategic, not just cartographic, threatening Ukraine's defensive lines.
Donetsk Holds Strategic Defense Lines
- Mak explains that the Donetsk territory contains a Fortress Belt critical to Ukrainian defense.
- Losing that line would enable future Russian offensives from a stronger position.