For Ukrainians enduring the ongoing war and concerned about Russia’s future actions, observing Donald Trump’s recent behavior has been emotionally taxing.
Sentiments have shifted rapidly between negative and positive.
Leading up to the previous U.S. elections, Ukrainians largely favored President Joe Biden. While some viewed him as overly cautious regarding Russia, his assurances that the U.S. would stand by Ukraine were enough to overlook what many perceived as the Biden administration’s slow pace in providing military aid to Kyiv. Despite the delays, there was confidence that support would eventually reach the front lines.
Trump was viewed with considerable apprehension, mainly due to his repeated statements about halting aid to Ukraine.
However, upon his taking office, his pledge to end the war “in 24 hours” offered a glimmer of hope. The desire for an end to the conflict is universal in Ukraine. The question arose: Could Trump successfully negotiate an end to Russian aggression?
This hope was short-lived. Even President’s staunchest critics were shocked by his treatment in the Oval Office in February. This widely publicized event deeply affected Ukrainian society.
Some attempted to rationalize the incident as a negotiating strategy, suggesting Trump was signaling to Russia his intention to mediate rather than exclusively support Ukraine.
However, the video of the American leader’s verbal criticism of the Ukrainian President was seen as a humiliation by Ukrainians across the political spectrum. It also diminished any remaining hope that the U.S. would effectively counter Russian aggression or secure a negotiated resolution that would end the fighting while preserving Ukraine’s sovereignty.
Against this backdrop, the visit of the American leader’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, to the Kremlin was met with renewed worry. Witkoff’s meeting with Vladimir Putin left Ukrainians feeling betrayed and concerned that the U.S. was abandoning them.
From the perspective of those in Ukraine, still at war, it appeared Russia was emboldened, with the U.S. seemingly accepting the Kremlin’s aggression without consequence.
Consequently, Ukrainians struggle to feel optimistic about America’s current leadership. As “peace talks” commence this week in Istanbul, they are viewed with skepticism.
While not speaking for every Ukrainian, the prevailing sentiment is clear: these talks do not resemble genuine negotiations. Russia seems to believe it has no need to negotiate, and Putin’s attendance remains uncertain.
Therefore, hope now rests with Europe. With America appearing to withdraw its support, Ukrainians are increasingly looking to their Western neighbors to fill the void left by the U.S. Whether they can effectively do so remains to be seen. For now, hope is all that remains.
