What’s next for Ukraine and US relations?
Mar 3, 2025, 2:36 PM
SALT LAKE CITY—Questions about the relationship between Ukraine and the United States have been prominent since the contentious visit between President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and President Donald Trump on Friday.
Following the blow out, European leaders rallied behind Ukraine.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron and Zelenskyy said they had agreed to work on a peace plan and take it to the U.S.
“I think that what you’ve seen after this is that Zelenskyy has wisely been trying to shore up support everywhere else he has it,” said Ryan Vogel, the director for the Center of National Security Studies at Utah Valley University.
On Sunday, Zelenskyy said he believes Ukraine’s relationship with the U.S. will continue. However, a deal with Russia to end the war is “very, very far away.”
Vogel told Dave & Dujanovic that Zelenskyy is doing what he can to indicate he wants to move forward with the U.S.
What’s required to move Ukraine and the US forward?
Vogel said the U.S. needs to get past the emotions and think about what is in the country’s best interest.
“And I think … based on where we’ve been before, that is to continue to support Ukraine in order to deter Russian and even, you know, those that would learn from it, like China, from future aggression.”
As for Ukraine, Vogel said Zelenskyy should appeal to the Trump administration by offering a deal that would benefit the U.S.
Alternatively, he could take some things off the table that have been a non-starter to the administration
“… Take some things off the table that have been more thorny — that Zelenskyy has suggested in the last week — like a path to NATO membership or something like that.”
Ultimately, Vogel said, Ukraine needs a guarantee from the U.S. that it’ll be there as support if Russia does not follow through with a peace deal.
“Ukraine is in a terrible position with Russia. Russia is not an honest broker, they’re not going to follow through with their agreements unless they’re held to it. So really, the United States is essential here.”
