"What's done can't be undone, as the Countess said when she married the footman."
— Charles Dickens, The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club*
Trump’s election to the presidency has unleashed a flood of speculation about the future of Ukraine, Europe, and the world. In pro-Russian circles, the buzzword of the hour is the "Ukrainian incident"—how they’ve branded Trump’s ambiguous remarks about Ukraine. The Russian media shows signs of both excitement and apprehension, fueling hope on the Ukrainian side. Putin may flaunt confidence on camera, but it's clear he's bracing himself. He knows the unpredictability of Trump and understands the threat of unpredictability better than most.
Meanwhile, the American polls give us a sliver of reassurance: a resounding 63% of Americans still favor full support for Ukraine. The Ukrainian media—like the weather vane it sometimes is—is cautiously turning in Trump’s direction, hopeful that even the famously “fluffy” Trump can’t ignore public opinion entirely.
But then comes the whisper of peacekeeping missions, with pro-Russian commentators suggesting a ceasefire with troops on the demarcation line. Not NATO. Not Americans. Now, with Trump's European cheerleader Viktor Orban positioning himself as a representative voice, the murmur of anxious conversations echoes across Europe.
So here we are, with an odd mix of hope and dread as we wait to see what Trump’s choices will bring for Ukraine. Much, unfortunately, does depend on him—and, yes, his VP, too. Yet the courage of the Ukrainian people and Zelensky stands strong, grounding us in the belief that, in the end, our strength and resolve will matter.
As the French say, "The most beautiful girl can only give what she has." And Trump, for better or worse, can only give what he has. Less support, maybe. No support, perhaps. But hope persists. Russian drones may loom overhead, but here we stand.
Glory to Ukraine!
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