The diplomatic relationship between the U.S. and Ukraine grew tense after President Trump publicly criticized Ukrainian President Zelensky, giving Russian President Putin a strategic advantage. Since Russia’s invasion, the U.S. has provided significant aid to Ukraine, totaling over €114 billion from 2022 to 2024, but recently voted against a UN resolution demanding Russia withdraw its forces. This U.S. stance shocked Western diplomats and raised concerns in Kyiv about potential cuts to U.S. aid. Meanwhile, European leaders stress the need for strong security guarantees for Ukraine, contrasting with Trump’s preference for economic deals, highlighting increasing Western divisions.
New Delhi:
The diplomatic ties between the United States and Ukraine, already under pressure, faced a significant and public breakdown on Friday when US President Donald Trump harshly criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House. This unprecedented reprimand — broadcast on news channels worldwide — has given Russian President Vladimir Putin a strategic edge: reduced US assistance to Ukraine, and a respite for Russian forces on the ground.
Since the onset of the Russian invasion, the United States has allocated approximately 64 billion euros in military aid to Ukraine, along with financial and humanitarian support. According to the Kiel Institute, a German research organization, total US assistance to Ukraine from 2022 through the end of 2024 has reached 114.2 billion euros ($119.8 billion), while contributions from Europe amounted to 132.3 billion euros.
Just days prior to the White House incident, the US and Trump diverged from Europe by voting against a United Nations resolution that called for Russia’s withdrawal from Ukraine on the third anniversary of Putin’s full-scale invasion.
The resolution, introduced by Ukraine, received backing from 93 nations, with 18 against and 65 abstaining. Among the opponents were Russia and its close allies – North Korea, Syria, Belarus, Nicaragua, and, unexpectedly, the US. This move shocked Western diplomats, who had assumed the US would maintain its long-standing support for Ukraine’s sovereignty.
The resolution urged Russia to withdraw its troops from Ukraine, be accountable for war crimes, and acknowledge the devastation caused by its invasion. However, Trump, who has long expressed admiration for Putin’s leadership style, declined to support the measure.
Zelensky’s Concerns
For three years, the Kremlin has depicted Zelensky as a reckless and inept leader destined to alienate his NATO supporters. The scene in Washington — Trump, accompanied by Vice President JD Vance, chastising Zelensky over US military assistance to Ukraine — has left Kyiv anxious about a potential stoppage of American aid.
Despite the friction, Zelensky later conveyed in an interview with Fox News that he believed the relationship with Trump could be repaired. However, he recognized the harsh reality of the battlefield: “Of course, combating Russia will be challenging without your support.”
France, the UK, and Turkey have expressed their intent to deploy troops to Ukraine. Zelensky has indicated that at least 100,000 would be necessary, though their specific roles are yet to be defined. Nonetheless, Moscow has cautioned that any “NATO” presence in Ukraine would be seen as a provocation.
Putin’s Quiet Triumph
For the Kremlin, the confrontation in the White House became a propaganda victory. Russian officials and state media capitalized on the event, showcasing the Oval Office clash as proof of Ukraine’s declining influence on the global stage.
Even as Trump professes a desire to “end the death” in Ukraine, Putin remains focused on what he refers to as the “root causes” of the conflict, a phrase widely interpreted as his demands for Ukraine’s neutrality, a reduced military, and restrictions on NATO’s expansion.
Russia currently occupies approximately 20 percent of Ukraine, including Crimea, which it annexed in 2014. Putin insists that Kyiv must acknowledge the “realities on the ground” and formally yield control of Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson — all territories annexed by Moscow in 2022.
Zelensky is resolute that Ukraine’s borders from 1991 must be reinstated. However, he has suggested the possibility of a land swap involving Russia’s Kursk region, which Ukrainian forces briefly captured last year. Putin has categorically rejected this proposal.
The European Stance
The altercation at the White House has exacerbated the divide between the US and its European allies regarding Ukraine. While Trump pressures Kyiv for an immediate ceasefire, European leaders emphasize the need for robust security guarantees to thwart a Russian resurgence.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has highlighted the necessity of a US security guarantee. In contrast, Trump appears to prefer an economic arrangement.
Washington has proposed a minerals agreement where American companies would invest in Ukraine’s resource sector, providing economic stability instead of military protection. However, without concrete security assurances such as air defense support or intelligence-sharing, Ukraine could remain vulnerable to future Russian aggression.
The public humiliation of Zelensky simultaneously furthers another Kremlin objective: weakening Western cohesion. Russian lawmakers openly ridiculed Ukraine’s leader, with former President Dmitri Medvedev labeling him an “insolent pig” on social media.