Ukraine now fights two enemies. One is America
In two weeks, Washington sanctioned the court prosecuting Putin, waived its own sanctions on Russia, and called him a humanitarian.
On October 18, President Zelenskyy of Ukraine accused former President Donald Trump of attempting to pressure Ukraine into negotiating a peace deal with Russia. In response to NBC's inquiry regarding Ukraine's capability to win the war without US support, Zelenskyy stated, "Without United States support, it's very difficult." He further warned that if the United States were to side with Russia, Ukraine would be unable to withstand the conflict.
Zelenskyy expressed hope that Trump would take Ukraine's side or at least remain neutral, urging him to reconsider his stance on Russia, as he believed such actions would be detrimental to both Ukraine and the US.
The animosity between Ukraine and the United States intensified following various incidents during Trump's tenure. Zelenskyy expressed a mix of emotions, conveying a weak "maybe" when asked if Trump remains an ally. The history between the two nations is marred by unpleasant encounters, including Trump's humiliation of Zelenskyy in the White House, labeling Ukraine as a "dictator without elections," suggesting Ukraine was responsible for the war, and promoting a one-sided peace plan that favored Russia.
Furthermore, Trump has consistently undermined Ukraine's defense and questioned its legitimacy as a nation.
In just over two weeks, the tension between Ukraine and the United States reached new heights. On October 9, new sanctions were imposed on the International Criminal Court, an institution vital for holding Russia accountable for its atrocities. On the same day, sanctions were lifted on Russian diesel exports, indirectly aiding Russia's war efforts.
On October 10, Trump suggested that Ukraine should replace its current president, and on October 11, he declared an "energy ceasefire" that only applied to Ukraine, disregarding Russia's actions. SpaceX restricted its classified Starlink military-grade service, negatively affecting Ukraine's defense against Russian drone attacks.
Intelligence sharing was also suspended for three days, leaving Ukraine vulnerable to Russian missile strikes.
On October 16, Trump waived the Graham Act-related sanctions and restrictions, calling it in the US national interest. He also proposed that Europe should resume buying Russian gas to encourage Russia's exit from the war. Two days later, the administration delayed the delivery of Patriot missile defenses to Ukraine, citing Secretary Pete Hegseth's failure to sign transfer documents.
The administration's actions demonstrated their alignment with autocracy against democracy and the rules-based world order, leaving Ukraine to face both Russia and the United States in a precarious strategic position.
Written by urgent.news from Euromaidan Press's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
