Espreso. Global
Exclusive

Trump still angry at Zelenskyy but respects him more – diplomat Bryza

2 February, 2025 Sunday
16:25

Former U.S. State Department advisor and ex-director for Europe and Eurasia at the U.S. National Security Council, Matthew Bryza, believes that Donald Trump has begun to respect Volodymyr Zelenskyy more, precisely because he did not succumb to pressure and intimidation

client/title.list_title

He shared his opinions in an interview on Espreso TV.

"When it comes to President Zelenskyy, President Trump has suggested that he does not trust him. He has called him the ultimate showman, saying he is skilled at extracting large sums of money from the United States government. I think Trump is still angry that his first impeachment stemmed from a conversation he had with President Zelenskyy. Trump believed he could intimidate Zelenskyy into providing negative information about Hunter Biden and Joe Biden. When Zelenskyy refused, the conversation was leaked, and it appeared as though Trump was attempting to blackmail him. As a result, Trump got into serious trouble.However, I also think that deep down Trump's respect for Zelenskyy increased because Zelenskyy stood up to him. Unlike Viktor Orbán, who visited Mar-a-Lago and acted sycophantically, showering Trump with exaggerated praise, Zelenskyy refused to play along," Bryza explained.

The diplomat noted that Donald Trump does not have much respect for foreign leaders who act overly submissive. He specifically pointed to Viktor Orbán’s behavior.

"Unlike Viktor Orbán, who visited Mar-a-Lago and acted sycophantically, showering Trump with exaggerated praise, Zelenskyy refused to play along. He likes to be complimented but dislikes excessive flattery. Sometimes when he highly praises someone it is actually a sign that he sees them as weak," Bryza added.

  • On January 22, U.S. President Donald Trump called on Russian leader Vladimir Putin to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine. If Putin refused, Trump threatened Russia with high tariffs, taxes, and sanctions on all exports to the U.S.
  • Later, Trump expressed a desire to meet with Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin soon to "end this war."
  • On January 24, Trump stated that President Zelenskyy should not have allowed the war in Ukraine to happen and that reaching a peace agreement would have been "easy."
Tags:
Read also:
  • News
2025, Thursday
6 February
17:27
Russia plans to complete "renovation" of Mariupol drama theater by end of 2025
17:06
Exclusive
At least 20,000 Ukrainian civilians are being held in Russian captivity
16:42
Ukraine receives F-16 fighter jets from Netherlands
16:19
OPINION
Moscow will drag out negotiations as long as possible
16:00
Trump envoy Kellogg rejects idea of restoring Ukraine’s nuclear status
15:44
Russian drone strikes densely populated residential area in Ukraine’s Kharkiv
15:25
Ukrainian drones target 66% of Russian military equipment in January — Ukraine's top general
15:07
UK to convene Ramstein meeting on February 12
15:00
Updated
Ukrainian forces strike Russian airfield in Krasnodar region used for launching Shahed drones
14:49
Exclusive
Ukraine's future depends on attracting qualified foreign workers — Ukraine’s Confederation of Employers
14:32
Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia to cut ties with Russia’s power grid this weekend
14:13
Russian forces turn to horses, donkeys for frontline supply runs
13:56
First French Mirage 2000 fighter jets arrive in Ukraine
13:37
Exclusive
Bridgehead near Dvorichna, Kharkiv region, keeps expanding — military expert
13:15
Exclusive
Russian army makes no gains in Kupyansk sector for three weeks — Ukrainian officer
12:54
North Korea using Ukraine as testing ground to improve missile accuracy
12:33
OPINION
Zelenskyy open to talks with Putin, but prospects remain dim. Vitaly Portnikov's column
12:11
Review
'Likely Palianytsia missile': strike on Russian oil refinery, cutting-edge tech Ukrainian innovators offer military. Serhiy Zgurets’ column
11:48
Exclusive
UK moves to take lead in cooperation with Ukraine — diplomat
11:29
Exclusive
Putin has no interest in negotiations, Trump must realize it fast — diplomat
11:10
Exclusive
Russia’s top strategy: provoking elections in Ukraine with temporary ceasefire — political scientist
10:51
Trump envoy Keith Kellogg to visit Ukraine on February 20 — media
10:34
90 clashes at front on Feb. 5: Ukrainian forces halt 24 Russian attacks in Pokrovsk sector
10:12
Russia loses nearly 40,000 troops in six months of Kursk operation — Ukraine's General Staff
09:35
Russia loses 1,240 soldiers, 46 artillery systems, 16 armored vehicles in one day of war in Ukraine
2025, Wednesday
5 February
21:30
Ukraine’s Defense Forces destroyed 13,000 Russian artillery systems in 2024
21:15
Zelenskyy believes Kursk operation will be key in negotiations
21:00
Exclusive
Ukraine gets weapons to exert strategic pressure on Russia
20:41
Exclusive
What Trump really meant about Ukrainian rare earth metals
20:20
Exclusive
Russian troops dig multi-story trenches hard to clear, says Ukrainian serviceman
19:54
Russia establishes new foothold on right bank of Oskil River, Kharkiv region
19:30
Explosion near Kamianets-Podilskyi recruitment center kills one, injures four
19:10
Exclusive
Killing of recruitment officer is consequence of Russia's special operations in Ukraine
18:45
Ukraine proposes storing American gas in its facilities
18:20
OPINION
Flaw in "everything was fine if not that damned Putin" narrative
17:55
Russian conscripts sent to Ukraine frontline despite Kremlin’s promises
17:30
Ukraine-U.S. cooperation goes beyond natural resources for mutual benefit — FM Sybiha
17:12
Italy's Bologna hosts protest against Russian disinformation, propaganda
16:50
Ukraine frees 150 defenders from Russian captivity
16:29
OPINION
Trump and Ukraine's rare earth metals
More news