After the public spat between U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, leader of the Sarvajana Balaya, MP Dilith Jayaweera, has weighed in with an analysis that draws connections between historical events and the current geopolitical tensions.
Posting on Facebook, he reflected on the path that has led Ukraine to its current situation, noting that Ukraine’s political volatility and its subsequent conflict with Russia are deeply intertwined with the actions and involvement of external powers, including the United States.
Specifically, he pointed to the Maidan Revolution in 2014 as a pivotal moment in Ukraine’s history, calling it “the first victory in Ukraine’s war with Russia,” as noted by President Zelensky in 2023.
Jayaweera compared the recent media narrative surrounding President Trump’s political resurgence and his America First agenda with the broader historical context of Ukraine’s struggles.
Trump’s commanding victory in the 2024 election, he argued, has ushered in a new era of American policies that have focused on empowering the United States economically and politically, often at the expense of international cooperation.
However, he acknowledged that Trump’s administration, while pursuing an “America First” agenda, has not forgotten the importance of global engagement, especially in relation to Ukraine.
Jayaweera was critical of the U.S. role in Ukraine’s political trajectory, specifically the involvement of figures like Victoria Nuland, who played a central role in shaping U.S. foreign policy during the 2014 upheaval.
While refraining from delving deeply into the specifics of these actions, he noted that Ukraine’s political turmoil cannot be attributed solely to its leadership or its people, as outside forces—most notably the United States—played a significant role in steering the nation’s path.
Jayaweera’s commentary is particularly focused on the irony of the United States, under the leadership of Trump, now distancing itself from the consequences of its earlier interventions in Ukraine. He expresses concern that the Trump administration’s efforts to dismantle what it refers to as the “Deep State” will not absolve the nation of its past actions. According to Dilith, these historical missteps cannot simply be “outsourced” or forgotten as global powers seek to reshape geopolitical dynamics in their own favor.
In a strikingly candid observation, Jayaweera likened the current approach towards Ukraine to the historical treatment of the Global South by powerful Western nations.
“What I saw in the Oval Office was a stronger nation dictating how matters must be run in Ukraine,” he opined, cautioning against the dangers of imposing foreign influence without considering the immense suffering that such actions have caused—not only to the Ukrainian people but also to Russia and the broader region.
Jayaweera said he hopes that the Trump administration avoids perpetuating the same practices that have historically marginalized countries in the Global South.
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