Everything changed in just one week. During this time, American diplomatic efforts to strengthen ties with Russia and President Donald Trump's thunderous declarations put Ukraine in a state of shock. Suddenly, pressure mounted from the United States, bitter statements were made by the Ukrainian authorities and on Wednesday, February 19, Trump, Kyiv's most crucial ally, accused the Ukrainian president of being a "dictator without elections."

This new situation has completely overshadowed the visit, awaited for weeks, of General Keith Kellogg, the US special envoy for Ukraine and Russia. Kellogg arrived at Kyiv station on Wednesday morning and is due to meet the Ukrainian president on Thursday. "It is very important for us that the meeting and our work with America in general be constructive," said Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday, without mentioning Trump. "Together with America and Europe, peace can be more reliable, and this is our goal."

Tensions between the Ukrainian and American heads of state exploded a week after the first confirmed phone call between Trump and his Russian counterpart. Since then, not a day has gone by without a statement or meeting hinting at the possibility of a deal unfavorable to Kyiv.

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