Since taking office, President Trump’s hostile messages towards Ukraine have confronted Kyiv’s leaders with a harsh reality: the United States can no longer be counted on as a supporter and may even become an adversary in the ongoing conflict with Russia. In the past two weeks, Trump has initiated direct peace talks with Russia, disregarding Ukraine’s pleas for a seat at the negotiating table. Moreover, he has labeled Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky, a “dictator” and falsely accused Ukraine of starting the war that Russia initiated in 2022.

As the conflict enters its fourth year, this growing animosity has prompted Kyiv to reassess its leverage over US policy in Ukraine and explore alternative options. Ukraine may try to curry favor with Trump by offering lucrative economic deals, such as the minerals agreement currently under negotiation, but it risks facing onerous terms in return. Meanwhile, Ukraine has turned to Europe as its new closest partner and potential security guarantor. President Zelensky has engaged in numerous discussions with his European counterparts to discuss increased military support, including peacekeeping troops.

However, Ukraine’s need for continued US support in negotiations seems increasingly unlikely. Analysts recommend that Ukraine shift its focus towards deepening ties with Europe, increasing domestic weapons production, and exploring alternative options. Ukraine has enough resources to sustain its fight against Russia through the first half of the year, but its defense has been weakened by a lack of soldiers, exhaustion, and issues with coordination. Nonetheless, Ukraine’s defense industry has been significantly ramped up, covering around 40 percent of the country’s weapons needs.

European countries, such as France and Britain, have also been leading discussions about deploying peacekeeping troops to Ukraine to deter further Russian aggression. However, these efforts may not be viable without American air support, highlighting the challenges that Ukraine faces in its ongoing efforts to maintain its sovereignty.

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/25/world/europe/trump-ukraine-russia-war.html