The U.S. has provided military and financial support for Ukraine since Russia invaded the country in February 2022. Under the Trump administration, however, interactions between U.S. and Ukrainian officials have become increasingly tense.
On Feb. 17, marking nearly three years since Russia invaded Ukraine, Russian and American political officials met in Saudi Arabia to discuss a deal meant to diffuse tensions around the war. According to NBC News, Ukrainian officials were not invited to the event, which raised concerns for many about President Donald Trump’s stance on the war in Ukraine.
According to the New York Times, Trump has been clear in his effort to end the war with a minerals deal between the U.S. and Ukraine. Trump has demanded $500 billion worth of Ukraine’s natural resources — a great deal more than what the U.S. has supplied Ukraine with in terms of military aid — and has failed to guarantee the future security of Ukraine.
There was a flare-up between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance in a meeting at the White House on March 1 after Zelenskyy refrained from signing the deal.
Offended by Zelenskyy’s behavior, Trump asked the Ukrainian party to leave the White House. During the meeting, Trump and Vance repeatedly interjected and disagreed with Zelenskyy.
“You don’t have the cards right now. With us, you start having cards,” Trump said. He warned Zelensky he is “gambling with World War III.”
Previously, Trump denounced Zelenskyy as a ‘dictator.’ According to CBS News, Trump has continued to push him to sign the deal and secure a peace treaty, or Zelenskyy will risk losing his country.
According to CBS News, Trump’s treatment of a fellow democratic leader has alarmed European officials that Ukraine could be forced into a peace deal that favors Russia.
Furthermore, Trump has pinned the invasion on Ukraine. He told reporters that Ukraine “should have never started” the war. Trump later clarified that Russia did invade Ukraine.
Trump has also halted U.S. military aid to Ukraine, instead turning his efforts to Russia. He, however, is still cooperating with United Nations and European Union officials, according to CBS News.
Trump has repeatedly claimed that he “has long professed a desire to reset and improve relations with Russia,” says NBC News, insisting that it is in the nation’s best interest.
After receiving criticism from Democratic officials, Trump rejected allegations that he was favoring Russia, announcing from the Oval Office, “I’m not aligned with Putin … I’m aligned with the United States of America.”
Trump’s actions, however, have spoken for themselves — and may foreshadow a further pivot away from Kyiv and toward Moscow — according to the New York Times. Moscow has already started to feel Trump’s favor, says NBC News, and Putin has welcomed Trump’s attention with open arms.
Zelenskyy, in fear of losing his country, wrote a letter to Trump, which Trump read in his address to Congress on March 4.
Zelenskyy said that the Ukrainians were ready to negotiate for lasting peace — “nobody wants peace more than the Ukrainians,” Zelenskyy expressed — even if it means signing the mineral deals that favors Trump.
According to NBC News, Republicans’ view of Ukraine has significantly decreased due to the chaotic and tense meeting between the countries. An NBC News poll stated that 84% of Democrats have a favorable view of Ukraine, whereas only 54% of Republican respondents do.
Former President Barack Obama and former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton also pursued a friendlier relationship with Russia, though efforts stopped once Russia annexed Crimea in 2014.
Former President Joe Biden’s relationship with Zelenskyy also showed signs of strain. Similar to Trump, Biden also pointed out in a private phone call with Zelenskyy that he “could afford to show more gratitude for the billions in U.S. military assistance for Kyiv,” according to NBC News. Regardless, Biden and the previous administration worked to gather and show public international support for Kyiv, and never ended military aid.
