Has Zelensky become a burden on the Americans and Europeans?

Kyiv - After the Ukrainian government declined to attend the Munich Security Conference , it was revealed that it was forced to do so at the highest level, burdened by the need to meet with new American officials, who play the greatest role in the efforts to "stop the war and establish peace."

But Kiev is upset by these American efforts and gently criticizes them, because they are being discussed directly between the American and Russian sides, while it sets them aside with its European “partners” and supporters.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is the most prominent critic, as he has repeatedly “defied” the Americans in recent days by saying that “the United States does not have a ready plan to end the war,” and today he is calling for a “European army” that takes into account that “America will not be on Europe’s side on many issues.”

Prerequisites:

Zelensky's current approach revolves around several issues, most notably his refusal to make "backstage deals." There can be no decisions about Ukraine without it, and no decisions about Europe without it either, because "if we are not allowed to negotiate our future, we will all lose," he said.

The Ukrainian president also stipulates that any meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin - which the United States plans to hold in Saudi Arabia or Turkey - must be preceded by a plan to end the war and provide guarantees to his country.

Ukrainian media reported that Zelensky "politely" rejected an American request to acquire 50% of Ukraine's precious metals, instead of a $500 billion "swap deal" proposed by Trump to continue military aid to Kiev. Then Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal rushed to call on European countries to extract 20 of the 30 rare minerals they need, most notably uranium, lithium and titanium, jointly with his country.

Finally, Zelensky seeks to hold elections in his country only after the war, and after the end of the imposed state of martial law, and not at the end of this year as the Americans called for immediately after Trump took office.

The Ukrainian scene currently looks as if the United States is imposing difficult dictates on Kiev in its critical situation, as if Zelensky is a president who does not suit the Trump administration, and “must be changed.”

Olesa Yakhno, a professor of political science at Shevchenko University in the capital, Kiev, agrees with this idea in part. She tells Al Jazeera Net, “Not only because the Americans do not want Zelensky, but because he is an obstacle for the Russians, who consider him an illegitimate president, and because both of them are forced to deal with him as a matter of fact. This complicates Washington’s efforts and does not satisfy Moscow’s desires.”

"Washington's undeclared problem with Zelensky is that he wants a lasting peace with strong, specific guarantees, and refuses to simply stop the war, which would be in the Russians' interest and would start it again," she added.

Poroshenko's return:

While Zelensky's position on the form of ending the war may enjoy popular support, his weakness does not intercede for him before the "big guys", and so he has begun to think seriously about the upcoming elections that the Americans want.

Observers point out that the sanctions, recently imposed on former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko , are one of five “oligarchy” figures that Zelensky has vowed to fight in the 2019 elections.

In a joint statement, several human rights organizations in Ukraine considered that “imposing sanctions on opposition politicians and businessmen is political revenge, undermines the law, grossly violates the Constitution and international agreements ratified by Ukraine, poses a serious threat to human rights and fundamental freedoms, and constitutes a usurpation of power in the state.”

According to a poll conducted by Business Capital and New Image, Poroshenko is behind Zelensky in the presidential popularity scale, but his European Solidarity party is more likely to win parliamentary elections.

Mykola Kniazhetsky, a deputy from Poroshenko's party, told Al Jazeera Net: "It is no secret that Zelensky is jealous of Poroshenko, because he is a seasoned politician who has extensive relations with world leaders," considering that he is trying to exclude him from the competition, even if that is illegal.

"Poroshenko and Zelensky were and still are big businessmen in Ukraine, but they are not part of the ruling oligarchy that exercises monopoly and controls power," he added.