5

Mar

Trump-Zelenskyy public spat: What is ahead?

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The show of a public spat on Friday (28 February 2025) between imperious US President Donald Trump and visiting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reminds one of the fables narrated by mothers or grandparents to children.

While many would see it as an act of foolhardy by the Ukrainian President it would be seen and understood by his people as an act of honour like we hear in folklores and fables. An example near the home would be that of Maharana Rana Pratap standing against the might of the Mughals. “Might is not always right”, and not bowing before the powerful or David versus Goliath fight are some of the parallels that are bound to be drawn in his countrymen who are engaged in a war against mighty Russia. 

The meeting between the two, which began with handshakes and smiles on Friday, ended in a fiery argument within minutes, with the world media in attendance at the White House. Details of the meeting and words exchanged there are significant pointers for common men and women to get a real picture.

Trump raised his voice and told Zelenskyy, "You're in no position to dictate us".

Soon, the Ukrainian delegation was asked to leave the White House, with the formal lunch with the President remaining untouched, reports said.

The meeting was on track till US Vice President JD Vance provoked stressing the need for diplomacy to resolve the Russia-Ukraine war. Vance began to attack former US President Joe Biden.

Earlier in February, French President Emanuel Macron had also showed the first streak of defiance when he was interrupted till then unchallenged by any of the visiting heads of state by correcting the US President’s wrong statement on European aid to Ukraine. Trump and Macron were meeting on the 3rd anniversary of the Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine week after the new US administration had started peace negotiations with Russia without directly involving Europe.

 

Column at a Glance
On February 28, 2025, a tense meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy unfolded at the White House, reminiscent of classic fables about honor and defiance. While some may view Zelenskyy's confrontation with Trump as reckless, many Ukrainians see it as a noble stand against a powerful adversary, akin to historical figures like Maharana Rana Pratap.
Wednesday Wisdom
By Satish Misra
The meeting quickly escalated into a heated argument, with Trump asserting, "You're in no position to dictate us," leading to the Ukrainian delegation's abrupt exit. This incident highlights a broader trend under Trump's leadership, where the principle of "Might is Right" undermines the post-World War II international order, leaving weaker nations marginalized. As global powers negotiate without consulting affected countries, the future of Ukraine remains uncertain, raising questions about India's position in this shifting geopolitical landscape.

It would be appropriate to mention that our Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who met “his friend” Trump in the US capital Washington on 13 February, did neither interrupt Trump nor show any defiance even though his host thumped his chest later in the media roaring “Nobody can argue with me” about the ‘tariff’ missile fired at India. Modi neither showed any resentment for the treatment of illegal immigrants by the Trump Administration who were sent back to India on US military planes handcuffed and with legs chained. Though there was a sense of indignation among common people and the opposition pointing accusing fingers at the BJP government for insulting the nation nor did he speak a word against the inhuman behaviour on US soil.

Modi was the fourth head of the state or the executive head of a country who paid an official visit to the US to meet the 47th President Trump. Earlier to him. Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Japan’s Shigeru and Jordon’s King Abdullah. While the first three are obliged to the US for survival or in other words are akin to vassal states, India is a recent partner and prior to Modi’s assumption to power in 2014 was never a camp follower.       

Notwithstanding, all this it is more than obvious that the post-Second War international order erected after decades of labour and hard work by a comity of nations is lying in ruins under the new US President. The obnoxious principle of ‘Might is Right’ is the new order in which weak and disempowered people across the world from north to south and east to west have no place reminding of the 1930s when Fascist, reactionary and revanchist forces rose to power in Germany, Italy and Japan and challenged the then international order resulting in the World War II which ran from September 1, 1939 to 2 September 1945 with as estimated of 50 to 90 million deaths. Then the Soviet Union and China bore the main brunt of the War with the count of its human deaths both civilian as well as of its armed forces. The war was also extremely destructive with many cities reduced to rubble.

The root cause of the War was the expansionist lust of Germany, Italy and Japan which unleashed untold human miseries not only on their people but globally.    

The money cost to governments involved has been estimated at more than $1,000,000,000,000 but this figure cannot represent the human misery, deprivation, and suffering, the dislocation of people and economic life, or the sheer physical destruction of property that the war involved.  

With Trump’s assumption of power on 20 January, a similar situation appears to be developing. Trump’s claim on Canada, Iceland, Panama Canal, and even acquiring Gaza where Palestinians have been suffering at the hands of Israel is just the tip of the iceberg. Reneging from international treaties, agreements and accords and reducing the United Nations’ relevance are pointers to the immediate future.

Ukraine’s fate hangs in balance with Putin’s Russia and Trump’s United States of America keen to strike a deal without even consulting Zelenskyy’s Ukraine without Europe being on board. The two mighty nations redrawing the map of the world?

Weaker, smaller and underdeveloped countries appear to have no say in the coming schemes of things.

There is a silver lining on the horizon with Europe regrouping but where does India stand? Possibly, hoping to get some crumbs in the ‘Bandarbant’ or living on “Friend’s” mercy?

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