Ukrainians expressed concern Tuesday over a U.S. decision to withhold military aid critical to countering a Russian invasion amid a widening rift between Kiev and Washington.
Days after a high-profile meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, US President Donald Trump ordered a halt to aid in an attempt to pressure Kyiv to begin peace talks with Russia.
In Kyiv, officials said they valued vital U.S. support in the conflict and were eager to continue cooperating with Washington. But the country's prime minister stressed that Ukraine still expected security guarantees to be part of any peace deal and refused to recognize Russia's occupation of Ukrainian territory.
Ukraine and its allies are concerned that Trump is pushing for a quick cease-fire that would benefit Russia, which Kyiv says cannot be trusted to honor the truce.
Ukraine, heavily dependent on foreign aid to contain Russia's full-scale invasion that began on February 24, 2022, fears that support could be cut off after Trump's appointment.
For example, American Patriot anti-aircraft missile systems are a key part of Ukraine's defense. No less important is US intelligence assistance, which allows Ukraine to track Russian troop movements and select targets.
“I feel betrayed, but it's not that deep. I expected something like this from Trump,” said a Ukrainian soldier fighting in Russia's Kursk region, where Ukraine launched a bold military offensive in August 2024 to improve its negotiating position.
The soldier spoke to The Associated Press by phone on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media.
On the front lines, where Ukraine is struggling to hold off a larger and better-equipped Russian army, another soldier said the U.S. decision could allow Moscow to make greater gains on the battlefield.
“War is a very pragmatic business,” he told the AP on condition of anonymity under military rules.
“If we have weapons, enough ammunition, infantry, armored vehicles and aviation, that's great. If not, we're in trouble,” he added.
He recalled the seven-month delay in US aid that ended in April 2024 but led to Russia's seizure of the strategically important city of Avdiivka.
The pause in U.S. aid is not expected to have an immediate impact on the fighting. Ukrainian forces have slowed Russian advances along a front that stretches about 1,000 kilometers (600 miles), particularly in the hotly contested Donetsk region, about 700 kilometers (400 miles) east of Kyiv.
The Russian offensive resulted in significant losses of personnel and equipment, but did not give the Kremlin a strategically significant breakthrough.
Elena Fedorova, 46, a resident of the southern port city of Odessa, said she hoped Trump's decision would be temporary because “we really need help.”
US support is essential because Europe is unable to fully meet Ukraine's needs for air defense systems, Ukrainian politician Yegor Chernov said.
“This, in turn, will lead to an increase in the number of civilian casualties,” he added.
Relations between the United States and Ukraine have deteriorated since Trump took office and his team began bilateral negotiations with Russia.
Trump says he is committed to making progress in peace talks. During his campaign, he promised to resolve the conflict within 24 hours, but later revised that deadline to say he hoped peace could be achieved within six months.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said US aid was “vital” and had saved “possibly tens of thousands” of civilian and military lives.
However, at a press conference in Kyiv, he stressed that any peace agreement must be “on the terms of Ukraine as a victim country.”
Ukraine wants “concrete security guarantees” from Washington, European countries and the leading industrialized countries of the Group of Seven, he said. The return of territories occupied by Russia, which occupies almost
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
