While most Kyivans Reuters spoke to said Ukraine would be able to keep going whatever lay ahead, some were concerned by the breakdown in relations between the two leaders.
“Without the arms supplied by the United States we will not win this war and I do not know what’s going to happen,” said Andriy, a 59-year-old university lecturer.
The meeting in Washington was intended to smooth choppy personal relations between Trump and Zelenskyy, with the two men due to sign an agreement that would have shared profits from Ukraine’s critical raw material deposits with the US.
Instead, it quickly turned into a vicious spat in front of the cameras as Trump visibly irritated Zelenskyy by refusing to condemn Russia, which launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine three years ago and occupied parts of it since 2014.
“The agreement and the participation of the US in the mineral deal would have stabilised relations. Now it is very scary,” said Petro, a 20-year-old student.
“I think it could have been approached in a more diplomatic way, but from the individual point of view I can understand Zelenskyy because the tone of the dialogue with Trump and Vance indicated it would end like this.”
