[Editor’s Note: Dr. Rey Pagtakhan – a retired physician, professor and parliamentarian – was in Kiev as one of three Members of Parliament on the Canadian Parliamentary delegation that monitored the 1991 referendum-vote on Ukrainian independence. Subsequently, he served as a preceptor (1992-1999) to successive Ukrainian parliamentary interns under the Canada-Ukraine Parliamentary Program. He had earlier written for CFNet on Putin’s act of war against Ukraine (March 1, 2022; March 16, 2022; April 1, 2022; April 16, 2022; March 1, 2025)].
March 16, 2025 - It was early afternoon of February 28th two weeks ago when I received our Editor’s ‘Fast-moving News-about-Ukraine’ e-mail alert: “Trump, Vance and Zelensky got into a shouting match. Zelensky was told to leave the White House. No deal.”
I was still on my desktop computer, having just e-mailed him barely an hour earlier an update to the concluding paragraphs of my then forthcoming Commentary that included this line, “Now it is Zelenskyy, not Putin, in the Oval Office.” The quote is from John E. Herbst’s recent essay in the New Atlanticist. Herbst is a Senior Director of the Atlantic Council’s Eurasia Center and former US ambassador to Ukraine. I share Herbst’s view that signing the US-Ukraine Minerals Deal in the Oval Office would likely lead Trump ‘to ensure that the peace he brokers to end Russian aggression in Ukraine is durable.’ I wanted to reinforce my hope for genuine peace – just and lasting peace – which necessitates security guarantees backed by American and European allies.
As I was concluding my update, I did recall the news report a day earlier on the shameful vote America made on the United Nations resolution condemning Russia for aggression against Ukraine. America had reversed its previous posture and aligned itself this time with Russia and North Korea and voted against the UN resolution.
“Deeply problematic,” I thought. Hence, I inserted this phrase, and finished my update: “With deep reluctance and tinctured with hope, may this US-Ukraine minerals deal herald, indeed, the dawn of genuine and lasting peace in Ukraine! Is it on sight? Only the future can be certain.”
A premonition of the diplomatic fiasco? Be that as it may, I cannot fathom the chagrin I felt when I read my Editor’s e-mail alert: “Zelenskyy was told to leave the White House. No deal.”
I promptly turned on my TV and watched, appalled, for the ensuing two-and-a-half-hours – the replays in full public view worldwide of US Vice-President JD Vance (who took the lead) and President Trump - the hosts, I should emphasize – berating their visitor President Zelenskyy for simply explaining why he cannot trust the Russian President and, therefore, asking that a cease-fire agreement being brokered by the USA must include security guarantees. Instead of directly answering and giving assurances, they hurled accusations and imputed motives. I could not believe what I was witnessing. I could not believe what I was hearing. I could not imagine that the mighty USA would humiliate the already beleaguered President of Ukraine who has been courageously defending his country and people in the name of freedom, democracy and justice.
Composed finally, I went back to my desktop computer and e-mailed my editor this line: “Regrettable, indeed…I am aghast.”
Outpouring of Support and Ukrainian Unity
Many western officials were equally appalled. One official, apparently, suspected it was a set-up, “intended to give Trump a pretext to withdraw American military support …, which, three days later, he did,” including the cessation of satellite imagery of war attacks and intelligence sharing. Set-up or not, it pleased Putin exceedingly and emboldened him to escalate his brutal aggression.
One particularly revealing sentiment was shared by Vice-President JD Vance’ cousin who “criticizes him for 'belittling' Zelensky,” as BBC News reported at press time (March 10). Said the cousin Nate Vance: "There's a certain level of decorum that I expect from political leaders, especially in front of cameras. Zelensky does a daily or nightly address and thanks everyone who supports Ukraine on a daily basis." He continued: “It would be odd for my cousin and Donald Trump to ask for deference because they've been actively working against his initiatives for the past three years." [Note: ‘Nate Vance volunteered for three years with the Ukrainian military after Putin’s unprovoked, full-scale aggression.] The Vice President had called Zelensky ‘disrespectful’ and blamed him for “not expressing gratitude for America’s support.”
More than ever, Ukrainians in Ukraine including from the Opposition political party have galvanized their support and unity for their President.
European Solidarity Invigorated
Immediately after the diplomatic fiasco at the Oval Office, United Kingdom’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer and France President Emmanuel Macron phoned in their support and met with him (photos below). Two days later on March 2nd after the unfortunate Trump-Vance-Zelensky confrontation in the White House, European leaders gathered in London for their summit, Securing Our Future. Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau joined the summit in solidarity (photo below).
President Zelenskyy in conversation with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, March 2, 2025. Credit: www.president.gov.ua
President Zelenskyy with UK PM Keir Starmer and President Macron
President Zelenskyy in conversation with Prime Minister Trudeau on the way to the Summit hall, March 2, 2025. Credit: www.president.gov.ua
More meetings and announcements followed in Berlin, Paris and Brussels. They focused on European security – Germany proposed increased investments in armaments for defense. France raised the idea of broadening its nuclear deterrence to encompass other European nations. The European Union announced a number of initiatives to increase military aid and economic support for Ukraine. Reportedly, more than a $1-trillion aid plan is under consideration. There is apprehension amongst the Leaders they can no longer be certain of US protection against Russian aggression. Stressing the necessity of increasing Ukraine’s defense capabilities and securing its energy infrastructure to place the country in a position of economic and military strength, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen spoke of “turning Ukraine into a steel porcupine that is indigestible for potential invaders.”
Grateful, indeed, that the T-V-Z diplomatic fiasco – ugly as it was - has transformed into a blessing and inspired a people, a country and a continent to greater unity and solidarity and reminded us all to remember always the importance of humility and decency in human-to-human and nation-to-nation relationships. May these realizations eventually lead to genuine peace wherever and whenever needed to sustain humanity for all.
Editor's note: Dr. Rey D. Pagtakhan, P.C., O.M., LL.D., Sc.D., M.D. M.Sc. is a retired lung specialist, professor of child health, and former MP, Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister, and cabinet minister. He graduated from the University of the Philippines, did postgraduate training and studies at the Children’s Hospitals of Washington University in St. Louis and the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, and spent a sabbatical year as Visiting Professor at the University of Arizona Medical Center. He is the author of articles and chapters in medical journals and textbooks and columnist for community newsmagazines. Widely lectured in Canada and abroad, he spoke in June 2003 on “The Global Threat of New Infectious Diseases” at the G-8 Science Ministers/Advisors Carnegie Group Meeting in Berlin. He volunteers on the Advisory Council of Immigration Partnership Winnipeg and the Board of St. Paul’s College Foundation at the University of Manitoba.
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