Zelensky faces a painful choice in Saudi Arabia talks - bend the knee to Trump or lose his country
Sam Kiley

There is no chance that Volodymyr Zelensky would find himself stepping off a plane in Jeddah to gird himself for a dish of American humble pie if Donald Trump had not so comprehensively backed Russia in its war against Ukraine.

Until last week, Russia was not winning. Ukraine was not winning either. There was a stalemate in the three-year conflict which Moscow was unlikely to be able to sustain for much longer.

Ukrainian soldiers near Pokrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv, Kupyansk, and until recently in Sumy province - which represent more than 75 per cent of the entire frontline - all said that they saw a significant reduction in the capacity, quality, and energy of Russian forces fighting them.

Ukrainian sources said US intelligence assessments sent to Washington reflect the view that the country is not on its knees and that, if it is able to hold the line against Russia for another 18 months, they believe they can collapse the Russian army completely.

It is clear that’s not the assessment of the White House where Trump has repeatedly said, indeed shouted at Zelensky, that Ukraine doesn’t “hold the cards”.

That is because Trump has given Vladimir Putin two aces. Plucking them from the fingers of Zelensky he first slipped the Kremlin the suspension of military aid to Ukraine. Then, when it looked like Europe would step in and fill the gap, he slapped his hand over Zelensky’s eyes with a ban on intelligence sharing with Kyiv.