London – The Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his management team spent a large part of 2024 to court the two sides of the extended political fracture of America – well aware that the reparation of the continuous invasion of Russia has Supported, largely, on American generosity.
Kyiv seemed to hope that she could resist the dramatic return of President Donald Trump to the White House, taking care and the world that his alignment of the campaign on the story of Russia would be tempered by the geopolitical realities of the most powerful office of the world.
But the first month of Trump’s second term has already delivered a radical American pivot. The opening of the American -Russia talks in Saudi Arabia – intended to guarantee peace in Ukraine, but carried out without the involvement of kyiv – and the subsequent effiloche of US -UKRANIAN bonds, poses a new crisis for a nation that is is used to living with danger.
Volodymyr Fesenko, political scientist and the Center for political studies “Penta” in kyiv, told ABC News that recent developments represent “the most acute crisis in relations between the United States and Ukraine in all their history”.
“In the worst case, it is a strategic tour of the United States to Russia, a rapprochement with Putin and a weakening – or even destruction – of previous partnership relations with Europe and Ukraine “Said Fesenko. “I am afraid that it is the scenario that will be gradually achieved.”
People meet under a bridge destroyed during a commemorative ceremony to mark the third anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Irpyn, Ukraine, on February 24, 2025.
Evgeniy Maloletka / AP
“With Trump’s commercial approach to bilateral relations, and with his interest in restoring relations with Russia, special relationships for special partnerships between the United States and Ukraine will no longer exist,” said Fesenko.
The commitment of former President Joe Biden to involve kyiv in all the talks to put an end to the war was embodied by the motto “Nothing on Ukraine without Ukraine”. This approach seems to have been replaced by Trumpian transactionalism.
The White House now seems to be a strong kyiv in economic, territorial and political concessions, Trump himself repimacy Zelenskyy – celebrated by many Americans for his stoic management in wartime – as a “election without elections” which “would move better Or it is not going to remain a country. “
Zelenskyy and his senior officials have rejected, noting that Ukraine is unable to hold new elections under martial law. kyiv said he was happy to work with the new administration on mutually beneficial economic and security agreements, while urging American partners to treat Moscow’s story with skepticism. The Ukrainian parliament voted on Tuesday to assert the legitimacy of Zelenskyy and agree that no election can be held while the war continues.
The situation is “beyond the disturbance” for kyiv, said a source close to the Ukrainian government in ABC News. “It is difficult to imagine that it can be remote.”
The management of Ukraine is trying to trace a course through the Mines field of the second term of Trump, added the source.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks during a press conference on February 23, 2025 in kyiv, Ukraine.
Images Paula Bronstein / Getty
“They believe that they have concluded this balance of not being impoliate or disrespectful when it comes to counter some of the things which, once again, at the end of the day, no Ukrainian leader can accept,” declared the source.
“They believe that they manage it well, which does not mean that they have no anxiety,” they added. “They do it, because it is a fact that they count on American support, it is a fact that Europe cannot fully compensate for this support.”
“They strike this balance between repulsive, but not in a way they present themselves as completely obstruction and obstinate,” continued the source.
The American historic meeting of Russia this month in Riyadh has exposed the approach of the new administration in Moscow. The two parties agreed to normalize diplomatic relations and to continue talks aimed at ending the Russian war, all without the involvement of Ukraine.
Meanwhile, Trump’s attempt to gain access to hundreds of billions of dollars in Ukrainian mineral resources has still disturbed kyiv. “We are going to recover our money,” said the president about the potential agreement, the first draft of which rejected Zelenskyy, declaring: “I cannot sell our condition.”
President Donald at the Oval Blank Office in Washington, DC, on February 21, 2025.
Francis Chung / EPA via Shutterstock
But after a week of intense negotiations, the two parties now suggest that they almost concluded an agreement, with Trump saying on Monday that he expects to see Zelenskyy in Washington next week.
The reversal of the American approach is striking. Where once Biden and his team refused to engage with Moscow apart from an unprecedented sanctions campaign, Trump and his senior officials now rent a renewal in bilateral links.
Where Biden once directed the commitment “to any test” to defend Ukraine against the assault of the Kremlin “as long as it takes, Trump falsely suggested that Ukraine” should never have had Start “war.
The constant flow of the Biden administration of vital military and economic aid was replaced by Trump’s push to recover what he considers as badly invested American money. “I want them to give us something for all the money we put in place,” Trump told CPAC on Saturday.
The president focused on the value of American aid in kyiv, which he said reaches $ 500 billion. Zelenskyy challenged the figure and said that American aid had been granted in grants, not to loans. The Kiel Institute for the Global Economy – a research institute in Germany which follows foreign aid in Ukraine – said that the United States had contributed to around $ 119 billion to Ukraine over three years of war. The majority – $ 67 billion – was in the form of military equipment.
Ukraine-American-skepticism is expressed on all fronts. In an extraordinary illustration of realignment on Ukraine, the United States rose to the side of Russia during a vote against a resolution of the United Nations General Assembly condemning Russia, which was adopted on Monday with the support of traditional American Western allies. The United Nations Security Council adopted a resolution written by the United States which called for the end of the conflict without criticizing Russia. France and the United Kingdom abstained during the CSNU vote.
Zelenskyy said that Ukraine will not accept any peace agreement that does not protect him against renewed Russian aggression. The rapid change in policy of the Trump administration has prompted European allies to mobilize to provide their own long -term support – and its protection – from Ukraine. Great Britain, France and others discuss the deployment of European troops in Ukraine to maintain any peace agreement.
Although financially and logistical dependent on foreign partners, the Armed Forces of Ukraine are among the most powerful and experienced in the world. Zelenskyy said in January that 980,000 Ukrainians were now under arms, overshadowing any other European soldier.
Despite Trump’s unproven statements on the contrary, survey organizations respected in Ukraine have found that Zelenskyy retains the confidence of the majority of Ukrainians. His compatriots want the war to end with what they consider just, but a December survey by the survey of the Kyiv International Sociology Institute indicates that 57% are ready to carry the burden of the conflict as long as necessary , despite heavy losses, infrastructure and severe economic tension.
A woman attended a commemorative ceremony for civilians killed to mark the third anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in Bucha, Ukraine, on February 24, 2025.
Evgeniy Maloletka / AP
There are more days of upcoming test. Moscow said that the American and Russian negotiation teams would meet for a second cycle of talks in the next two weeks.
“He should not look like the Americans and that the Russians are trying to conclude an agreement on the fate of Ukraine behind our back,” Newsandr Merezhko, a member of the Ukrainian parliament representing the party of Zelenskyy, told ABC.
“But what is really important to us is that such communication between the Americans and the Russians should not lead to decisions concerning Ukraine,” said Merezhko, who is also president of the Foreign Affairs Committee Parliament.
“I hope it could be part of a political game from Trump, who tries to attract Putin in negotiations to demonstrate to his voters that he at least tries to keep his promise,” added Merezhko.
“This is why we need constant communication with Trump and his team – if there is a void, it can be filled with pro -Russian stories.”
Yuriy Boyechko, the founder and CEO of The Hope for Ukraine Charity, told ABC News that he thought Trump “took a side of the aggressor.”
“The Ukrainians will not sign a surrender,” he added. “We will continue to fight to preserve a free and democratic Ukraine even if our best ally – the United States – is moving away. We have no other choice.”
The Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (R) and his wife, the first lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenskyy are illustrated in Maidian in kyiv before a summit of European leaders on the occasion of the third anniversary of the Russian invasion on February 24 2025.
Javad Parsa / NTB / AFP via Getty Images
Patrick Reevell of ABC News contributed to this report.
