The Masterclass

Lessons from President Zelensky on dealing with DJT

Whatever else the 2/28/25 White House meeting was, it was a Masterclass in how to handle its current occupant. To understand this, I encourage you to watch the full video and read an unedited transcript to get the full impact of the President Zelensky’s words, tone and demeanor.

Three things about the meeting itself:

1. It was a planned photo-op, customarily lasting less than 2-3 minutes, preceding a luncheon and signing of the minerals agreement.

2. The minerals agreement was the first step in a sequence of agreements affirming Trump’s plan to negotiate with Russia to end the Ukrainian War. Prior to the meeting Zelensky had rejected an early draft, insisting that the agreement had to contain a promise that “security guarantees” would be included in any cease-fire plan.

3. The reporters were included in the photo-op at Trump’s request, a break from common practice.

The Set-Up: I believe that DJT had three goals:

1. To promote the idea that the minerals agreement was a “huge win” for America.

2. To obtain Zelensky’s deference and at least tacit agreement that Trump could take the lead in negotiations on his own terms, without security guarantees.

3. To do this in public to pressure, embarrass, and confuse President Zelensky.

The Master Class:

President Zelensky, unprepared and caught off guard, nevertheless offered a masterclass as Trump’s tactics emerged:

1. He refused to be silent, but remained calm and composed throughout, expressing respect, gratitude, and agreement where he could. Infantile bullies want their victims to comply, or, failing that, to sink to their level of emotional development, including accusations, emotional defensiveness or rage. Zelensky never did this, despite being baited with taunts accusing him of disrespect, ingratitude and hate.

2. President Zelensky repeated the history of Putin’s failures to comply with prior agreements, arguing that security guarantees were essential and asking what would be different in “this kind of diplomacy”. Vance’s angry answer “The kind that would bring peace” revealed only the circular argument used by grandiose leaders everywhere: Trust me, bow to me, because I can do what no one else can. No facts provided, only a demand for obeisance to Trump’s superior ability. Zelensky’s response, cut out of some reports, was that yelling didn’t make the reasoning of Vance’s argument any better.

3. When demanding deference did not work, the challenge “You’re not being realistic” was thrown out by DJT. Like the domestic abuser taunt “You’re so emotional”, this was intended to shame him, but he responded, “Realistic? Russia is stealing our land, executing civilians, and kidnapping our children. What part of that should I be realistic about?”

4. When an abuser is losing on the facts, he shifts the argument, “Have you said thank you once today?” We all know the scene, in film if not in our lives, when rage shifts to accusations of “You ungrateful____”

5. As it became clear that DJT’s goals (above) were failing, attempts to attach blame increased “It’s going to be very hard to do business like this, Volodymyr.” But Zelensky’s response. “Business? This isn’t a real estate deal. You can walk away. We can’t.” revealed the essential flaw in DJT’s argument, the clear difference in their stakes. The message was clear: I am speaking for my people, as a President. You are not.

While the set-up of the meeting was planned, I believe the tantrum at the end was not. DJT’s explosive rant about what Putin had endured with him and how they had bonded as victims of a witch hunt was spontaneous, unrehearsed, and the result of frustration that this one small man beside him, dressed in war time garb, was not moveable. DJT’s response to a reporter’s question about Putin’s possible noncompliance was even more infantile ““what if a bomb falls on your head right now…. what if… what if…” as though the most historically likely result was absurd to imagine.

It was not the “Great Television” that DJT hoped for, but true to form, he declared it a success. Lunch was cancelled, eaten by White House staff eventually, the signing table taken down, and Zelensky quickly escorted out of the building.

Reports of how warmly President Zelensky was welcomed in Europe and how quickly countries rallied to his cause later that day led to more raging in the White House about “my deal…, my Nobel Peace Prize” being threatened.

I happened to be watching the meeting as it happened, and the embarrassment I felt for my country was profound. I apologize to President Zelensky for the appalling treatment he received that day. But as a psychologist, a therapist of trauma victims and abuse victims, I want to say something far more important.

Bravo President Zelensky. You made me proud.