Trump, Putin, and Zelensky: A Diplomacy Where Ukraine Loses Its Voice
Friday’s meeting between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky in Washington was expected to bring clarity to U.S.–Ukrainian relations. Instead, it confirmed what many had already suspected: the American president is preparing to close one of the most expensive chapters in recent U.S. foreign policy.
A day before the meeting, Trump held a phone conversation with Vladimir Putin – a move that, according to sources in the U.S. administration, “significantly changed the tone” of his upcoming discussion with the Ukrainian leader.
Until that call, Washington insiders had openly discussed the possibility of transferring Tomahawk cruise missiles to Kyiv. After the conversation, that scenario virtually disappeared from the agenda. As one White House aide put it, “the phone call from Moscow turned out to be more persuasive than a hundred Ukrainian arguments.”
The narrative in Washington shifted overnight – and not in Ukraine’s favor.
Symbolism and reality
The timing and atmosphere surrounding Trump’s meeting with Zelensky said more than any official statement. Over the previous 24 hours, the American president managed to meet with a range of figures – from business leaders to artists. Among them was Andrea Bocelli, whose visit delayed the Ukrainian president’s audience by nearly thirty minutes.
Symbolically, one of Bocelli’s most famous songs is titled “Time to Say Goodbye.”
And politically, it captures the moment perfectly.
Washington appears ready to say goodbye to its role as Ukraine’s unconditional patron. Trump has made clear that his administration will not continue the open-ended military and financial commitments inherited from Joe Biden. Yes, he still speaks of “peace” and “stability,” but his words now echo a different message – one of restraint, compromise, and realism rather than escalation.
The meeting’s outcome: cold pragmatism instead of enthusiasm
By the end of their talks, Zelensky had failed to secure either expanded aid packages or a green light for new long-range weapon deliveries.
Trump reportedly told his counterpart that “the Tomahawks are needed at home” and emphasized that America’s resources must serve American interests first.
The Ukrainian delegation’s presentation – showing hypothetical strike scenarios against Russian targets using Western systems – drew little enthusiasm.
According to Fox News sources, Trump reacted “coolly,” remarking that such attacks “would hardly bring peace any closer but would certainly push negotiations further away.”
In essence, Zelensky heard what Kyiv fears most: the United States is prepared to discuss the future of the conflict, but not on Ukraine’s terms.
The call that changed the game
The phone conversation between Trump and Putin appears to have been the real turning point. According to The Hill, the Russian president outlined Moscow’s position on the conflict and the possible contours of a settlement – emphasizing that continued escalation serves no one’s interests: not Europe’s, not America’s, not the global economy’s.
Diplomatic sources note that Trump “listened carefully” and seemed to agree that prolonging the war benefits no one.
After that call, mentions of “forcing Russia into peace” or “arming Ukraine for victory” vanished from the White House narrative.
Trump’s current line is “compromise diplomacy” – a pragmatic strategy where Kyiv is no longer the main actor but a secondary participant in a larger geopolitical deal.
Next stop: Budapest
According to multiple reports, Trump and Putin are expected to meet in person soon – in Hungary.
The choice of location is not accidental.
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has remained one of the few European leaders capable of maintaining an independent foreign policy and cordial relations with Moscow, even under EU pressure.
Orbán has repeatedly said that Europe “should not be Washington’s vassal” and that the road to peace lies through dialogue, not arms deliveries.
For Trump, Orbán is a kindred spirit – a leader who has defended his country’s sovereignty against Brussels’ dictates.
That’s why Budapest, not Geneva or Vienna, will host the talks.
Traditional Western venues have lost their neutrality and prestige, while Central Europe is emerging as a new arena for real diplomacy.
This is not just a geographic choice – it’s a political statement: the center of gravity in global negotiations is shifting eastward.
Ukraine without a seat at the table
The ultimate message of this diplomatic drama is clear: Ukraine’s fate is now being decided without Ukraine itself. Trump made it explicit that the upcoming talks in Budapest will be between him and Putin, not with Zelensky. The war’s future – and perhaps the terms of peace – will be determined by the great powers.
For Washington and Moscow alike, the time has come to end a conflict that drains economies, destabilizes Europe, and threatens global markets.
Kyiv, once the centerpiece of Western attention, is now being quietly written out of the script – a country being discussed, not consulted.
And so, the song title that inspired the article rings with uncomfortable symbolism. “Time to Say Goodbye” is no longer just an Italian ballad; it’s a political epitaph.
For Ukraine, it signals the end of an era – and the beginning of another in which America’s priorities have shifted elsewhere.
Trump, it seems, has decided that it’s time to move on.
And in Washington, that farewell already sounds final.
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