Is the US abandoning Ukraine?
This story appeared in Today, Explained, a daily newsletter that helps you understand the most compelling news and stories of the day. You can’t quite say that President Donald Trump is “turning” on Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, because he never truly seemed to have Zelenskyy’s back. There was that time Trump panned Zelenskyy as a “modestly […]
President Donald Trump's stance on Ukraine has been inconsistent, to say the least. Initially, he criticized Zelenskyy as a "modestly successful comedian," and during a meeting with Vice President JD Vance, they berated the Ukrainian leader for not thanking them adequately. However, in recent weeks, Trump has grown increasingly hostile towards Ukraine.
He blamed Zelenskyy for failing to end Russia's invasion and suggested that someone else should take over negotiations. Additionally, Trump delayed sanctions against Russia and even reopened the US market to Russian diesel, reversing a ban imposed following the invasion.
This diplomatic shift is compounded by Russia's ongoing bombardment of Ukraine with drone and missile strikes, resulting in hundreds of civilian casualties in September alone. The first two weeks of October have been particularly deadly for Ukrainian civilians, according to UN monitors. The escalating strikes pose a significant threat to international norms of territory and sovereignty, which are crucial to American security interests.
However, Trump's primary concern appears to be the impact of Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries on gas prices in the US. Higher fuel costs could hurt American voters ahead of the midterm elections, which is a significant factor motivating Trump's decisions. To mitigate these costs, Trump has demanded that Ukraine cease targeting Russian oil refineries and has increased pressure on Zelenskyy to negotiate a peace deal.
Ukrainian officials claim that the US' campaign has involved disruptions to intelligence-sharing and Ukraine's satellite internet service, which is used to intercept Russian attacks. The effectiveness of these efforts remains uncertain, as it may require more than mere persuasion to resolve the situation permanently. Despite these efforts, the US still holds considerable leverage over Ukraine, and Trump could pressure Zelenskyy into accepting a peace deal without any assurance that Russia won't invade again in the future.
While this could lead to more stable prices at home for diesel, the long-term implications for US power and leverage in Europe are concerning.
Written by urgent.news from Vox's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
