Putin releases U.S. citizen Stephen Hubbard, who fought on Ukraine’s side

Retired US Army Lieutenant General Ben Hodges has criticized President Donald Trump for deliberately siding with Russia and undermining Ukraine's ability to defend itself. General Hodges is not confident that the current administration is being honest in its dealings with Russia, either pro- or anti-Ukraine. He believes that the administration's actions, including restricting Ukraine's defenses and waiving sanctions on Russia, are all part of a deliberate strategy to pressure Kyiv into surrendering territory.

Trump has demanded that Ukraine stop targeting Russian diesel refineries while the Kremlin has refused to cease targeting Ukrainian energy infrastructure. The United States has also prevented Ukraine from accessing Starlink satellite communication, which is critical in intercepting Iranian-made Shahed drones. This has led to the Ukrainian military losing the ability to intercept drones traveling faster than 161 km/h.

Trump has also called for elections in Ukraine and for Zelenskyy to be replaced. Hodges is pessimistic about any breakthrough between Washington and Kyiv, arguing that it reflects a deliberate policy choice by the administration.