Part 3/8:
The timeline of the partnership's development reveals a series of events that tested its feasibility. The author was tasked by President Trump to draft the agreement and engage with the Ukrainian government. In an effort to grasp the situation firsthand, he undertook a challenging journey to Kyiv, navigating a lengthy train ride from Poland in an environment fraught with danger.
As he arrived in Ukraine, a concerning escalation occurred when Russia bombed Kyiv for the first time since November. This incident was a clear indication of the high stakes involved; if the U.S. and Ukraine were indeed collaborating for a poor deal, Russia would not have reacted so aggressively.