In Europe, we were all waiting for the deal between Ukraine and the United States to be signed. A press conference between Trump and Zelenskyy was scheduled for 19:00 my local time. While we were having dinner, I heard the familiar alert sound of the Dutch News Agency NOS—its distinctive tone signaling something of importance. I turned to my husband and son and said, “I will take a look at what is happening.” What I saw left me in shock. I witnessed a man being bullied in such a terrible manner that, in that moment, I fully understood his response
The Hero vs. The Ruler
The recent exchange between Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Donald Trump, and J.D. Vance was more than just a political debate. It revealed a deeper struggle—one that Carl Jung might describe as an archetypal battle between the Hero, the Ruler, and the Shadow. This conversation exposed not just policy differences but the unconscious forces shaping global power dynamics.
Zelenskyy steps into the archetype of the Hero, the warrior-leader who refuses to surrender despite overwhelming odds. He represents the fight for national sovereignty, standing against aggression and betrayal. On the other hand, Trump embodies the Ruler—pragmatic, transactional, and focused on power as a means to an end. His insistence that Zelenskyy should be “more thankful” reflects a worldview where alliances are built on leverage rather than shared ideals.
The Shadow of the West
Vance: “For four years, the United States of America, we had a president who stood up at press conferences and talked tough about Vladimir Putin, and then Putin invaded Ukraine and destroyed a significant chunk of the country. The path to peace and the path to prosperity is, maybe, engaging in diplomacy. We tried the pathway of Joe Biden, of thumping our chest and pretending that the president of the United States’ words mattered more than the president of the United States’ actions. What makes America a good country is America engaging in diplomacy. That’s what President Trump is doing.”
Vance’s critique of U.S. foreign policy highlights the West’s reluctance to face its own Shadow—the fear of prolonged entanglement, the cost of leadership, and the preference for diplomacy as an escape rather than a commitment. In Jungian terms, the Shadow represents the unconscious parts of ourselves that we reject. For the U.S., this might be the guilt of past interventions or the anxiety of losing its global dominance.
Zelenskyy: “OK. So he (Putin) occupied it, our parts, big parts of Ukraine, parts of east and Crimea. So he occupied it in 2014. So during a lot of years — I’m not speaking about just Biden, but those times was (Barack) Obama, then President Obama, then President Trump, then President Biden, now President Trump. And God bless, now, President Trump will stop him. But during 2014, nobody stopped him. He just occupied and took. He killed people. You know what the –”
Trump: “2015?”
Zelenskyy: “2014.”
Trump: “Oh, 2014? I was not here.”
Vance: “That’s exactly right.”
Zelenskyy: “Yes, but during 2014 ‘til 2022, the situation is the same, that people have been dying on the contact line. Nobody stopped him. You know that we had conversations with him, a lot of conversations, my bilateral conversation. And we signed with him, me, like, you, president, in 2019, I signed with him the deal. I signed with him, (French President Emmanuel) Macron and (former German Chancellor Angela) Merkel. We signed ceasefire. Ceasefire. All of them told me that he will never go … But after that, he broke the ceasefire, he killed our people, and he didn’t exchange prisoners. We signed the exchange of prisoners. But he didn’t do it. What kind of diplomacy, JD, you are speaking about? What do you mean?
When Zelenskyy challenges Vance on what “diplomacy” truly means, he forces the West to confront its own contradictions. He tries to convince the people in power of the United States that they are dealing with an untrustworthy partner. But his conversation partner is not interested in facts. Earlier, Zelenskyy was criticized for not wearing a suit—because, in their eyes, he was meant to come and kiss the ring of the new King.
Europe’s Leadership Void
While the U.S. debates its role in the world, Europe faces its own leadership crisis. Emmanuel Macron has positioned himself as a strong European voice, but with only a year left before stepping down in 2027, his influence is waning. Ursula von der Leyen, as President of the European Commission, holds institutional power but lacks the direct mandate of a national leader. Meanwhile, Friedrich Merz struggles to establish his footing in Germany, where a stable government is yet to emerge. Europe must decide whether it will produce a true leader who can unify the continent or remain fragmented, unable to assert itself on the global stage.
What Comes Next?
This conversation was more than a diplomatic dispute—it was a mirror reflecting the deeper psychological struggles of nations. The Hero seeks justice, the Ruler demands obedience, and the Shadow lurks in the background, forcing us to confront uncomfortable truths. In this era of shifting power, the question remains: who will step up and define the future of global leadership?
I agree that unconscious forces and global uncertainties are shaping the world in profound ways. However, I think it’s important to be cautious about generalizations—history has shown that many different ideologies, movements, and nations have sought dominance in different ways. Rather than seeing any one group as a singular threat, perhaps the bigger challenge is how we navigate diversity, find common ground, and work toward peaceful coexistence.
Interesting points here Susanne – yes the shadow looms large as it is throughout the world. It is hard to imagine what may yet happen. Unconscious forces are at play. All nations are affected. One of the greatest threat is the rise of Islam who sees themselves as the dominant force at all costs –