Trump’s condemnation stirs up complex feelings in the Ukrainian enclave in New York City
Brighton Beach is a Slavic enclave in Brooklyn, where Ukrainians were better than two pairs of Russians at the time, to overwhelmingly vote for President Trump.
But at a bombing meeting at the White House, Mr. Trump was feeling divided on the second day of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (the latest performance of Mr. Trump’s decline in support for Ukraine) at a bombing meeting.
“His approach may be a bit too radical,” Igor Moshchinsky, 61, said of Mr. Trump at a café on Brighton Beach Avenue on Saturday afternoon. But Mr. Moshchinsky, who voted for Mr. Trump, said, “I don’t agree with Mr. Trump’s criticism of Mr. Zelensky.”
Local city councillor, Republican and Trump supporter Inna Vernikov tried to write a needle on social media saying that the meetings between the two countries on Friday were “possibly catastrophic” consequences.
“It is in the best interest of our country and the world to work together to end this war and help the Ukrainian people restore their security and sovereignty,” she said.
Inna Kir, 58, who owns a lingerie store on Brighton Beach Avenue, said she “absolutely agrees” to the difficult route Mr. Trump took with Mr. Zelensky. She responded to Mr. Trump’s criticism that Mr. Zelensky’s insufficient aid to the United States.
“I think he should appreciate what people do for him,” said Ms. Cole, a U.S. citizen who arrived thirty years ago. “It’s our money.”
She added: “I believe in Trump’s ability to bring peace. When money doesn’t flow, the war will end soon.”
Igor Kozak, 59, from western Ukraine, and his wife Marina Kozak, 57, agreed that Mr. Zelensky was “rude” and “disrespectful”.
Of course, not all Ukrainian New Yorkers (about 150,000 of them) support Mr. Trump.
In another Ukrainian pocket in Manhattan’s East Village, Mr. Trump’s critics were shocked by his attack.
“I have never been so disgusted with the president of this country,” said Ivan Makar, 52, who is the principal of the self-reliance Saturday school for Ukrainian studies on East Six Street. Mr. Makar, who lives in Westchester County north of the city, said his family fled Ukraine, which seeks safety. He said Friday’s meeting made him angry and devastated.
“This is a typical bullying, and Zelensky stands on the bully,” Makar said. “As a Ukrainian, I feel proud. As an American, I feel disgusted.”
Jason Birchard, 58, the owner of the East Village Ukrainian restaurant Veselka, stood inside the restaurant on Saturday wearing a T-shirt with a national symbol of Ukraine Tryzub.
“I’ve worn this shirt several times over the last three years, and I made sure to go deep into the closet today and pull it out because I really want to support Zelensky.”
Mr Birchard said the restaurant saw a surge in customers in the news.
“I am a Ukrainian American and I’m trying to stay positive and optimistic,” he said. “There is a false narrative that Ukraine invaded Russia. We have to understand that Ukraine has been an independent democracy for more than 30 years and we need to draw the line here.”
In Brooklyn, on a sunny corner near Brighton Beach Avenue, 20, Ilia Makarov, I encountered a similar frustration as the Q train slapped overhead.
Mr. Makarov, a computer science student who came to Brighton Beach from Ukraine five years ago, said he found that the United States may now support Russia in the war “unthinkable”.
“Normally, when you think about the United States, that’s the peacemaker,” said Mr. Makarov. “Now they’re almost supporting terrorists.”
