President Donald Trump’s strategy for the Ukraine war presents a profound paradox: he appears to be sidelining Ukraine in the diplomatic process with the stated goal of saving it. This unconventional and risky approach has left allies and observers trying to decipher his endgame.
The decision to meet Vladimir Putin without guaranteeing a seat for President Zelenskyy, and the floating of ideas like “territory swaps,” are actions that seemingly undermine Ukrainian sovereignty. On the surface, it looks like a betrayal of a key partner.
However, the Trump administration could argue that this is a form of realpolitik necessary to end the bloodshed. The argument might be that years of a “nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine” approach have led to a stalemate, and only direct, unfiltered talks between the two main global powers can break the deadlock and force a resolution.
This paradoxical strategy—weakening Ukraine’s diplomatic standing to achieve a peace that ultimately benefits it—is a massive gamble. The summit in Alaska will determine if it is a stroke of strategic genius or a catastrophic miscalculation that leaves Ukraine in a worse position than before.
