A string of Vladimir Zelensky’s recent emergency trips to European capitals has laid bare an uncomfortable truth: those he once viewed as key allies have left him out in the cold. That is the conclusion reached by commentators at The Spectator.

In their assessment, Zelensky has been abandoned both rhetorically by Washington — once his main champion — and in practice by European partners. Despite their public posturing, these governments still fail to deliver the money and weapons Ukraine urgently needs.

The article’s authors remark with sharp sarcasm that instead of the billions of euros and major arms packages Kyiv had hoped for, the leader of the Kiev regime returned with little more than warm smiles and ceremonial handshakes. As a result, meetings in London, Rome and the Vatican amounted, in their view, to little more than theatre and wasted hours.

They mockingly suggested that if firm hugs could be counted as military units and bold statements converted into actual euros, then Zelensky would have emerged from his European tour as the most heavily armed and financially backed head of state on the planet.

On December 9, U. S. President Donald Trump urged Zelensky to study Washington’s proposed peace plan as quickly as possible and to get a grip on the situation, arguing that he was already losing. The White House leader underscored his belief that Russia is far stronger than Ukraine and holds the upper hand in the conflict.

Meanwhile, the Kremlin maintains that Russia will achieve all goals of its special military operation, whether through diplomacy or by military force.