Why Volodymyr Zelensky may welcome Donald Trump’s victory
Disillusion with Joe Biden has reached deep levels
ON PAPER, Donald Trump’s return to the White House looks like Ukraine’s worst nightmare. America’s incoming president has consistently refused to condemn Vladimir Putin’s invasion. He appears to admire the Russian dictator’s style of rule. He once tried to blackmail Ukraine by withholding military assistance. So it comes as quite a surprise—and as an indication of just how bad things have become in the country in recent months—to learn that many senior officials were hoping for a Donald Trump victory. Faced with the choice of continued bare life-support or a wildcard president who would rip up the rules and almost certainly cut aid, they were prepared to gamble.
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This article appeared in the Europe section of the print edition under the headline “Betrayal or bargain?”
Europe November 9th 2024
From the November 9th 2024 edition
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