Ukraine Has Changed Its Approach To Dealing With Trump

The New York Times revealed the details.

Ukraine has changed its approach to dealing with U.S. President Donald Trump. According to Ukrainian officials, the American leader is increasingly taking Russia’s interests into account, while at the same time making it more difficult for Kyiv to counter Russian aggression, writes The New York Times.

According to a high-ranking Ukrainian official, the situation resembles the last chance to warn of an approaching tsunami. Ukraine is facing Russian strikes on its energy infrastructure and economy, a shortage of air defense resources, and the prospect of a harsh winter.
The actions of the Trump administration have caused additional alarm in Kyiv. Specifically, this refers to the purchase of Russian diesel fuel, the easing of sanctions against Russia, and pressure on Ukraine to stop strikes on Russian oil refineries.

The Ukrainian side also reported sudden restrictions on satellite communications, disruptions in the exchange of military intelligence with the U.S., and delays in the delivery of American interceptor missiles. U.S. officials deny that any disruptions have occurred.

Zelenskyy Responded to Trump’s Statements

Tensions escalated after Trump stated that Russia, “to be honest, treats Ukraine well” and that the Russians “aren’t doing anything special.” These remarks came amid a rising death toll among the Ukrainian civilian population as a result of Russian attacks. According to the United Nations, last month’s figure was 85% higher than during the same period the previous year.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy decided to publicly respond to the U.S. leader’s statements, highlighting the facts and consequences of Russian aggression. In an interview with ABC News last week, Zelenskyy said, “People need to hear the truth.”

He also stated that Trump is sympathetic to dictators and, by supporting Russian leader Vladimir Putin, has ended up on the wrong side of history. According to the Ukrainian president, the U.S. leader’s actions only contribute to the continuation of the war.

Ukrainian security and military expert Mykhailo Samus also expressed the view that Washington is putting pressure on Kyiv: “Trump is openly pushing us toward surrender.”

Kyiv is trying to maintain U.S. support

Despite public disputes, the Ukrainian leadership is not cutting off contact with Washington. On Monday, Zelenskyy spoke by phone with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and on Tuesday he met in Oslo with Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff.

After the meeting in Norway, the Ukrainian president refrained from directly criticizing the United States and emphasized the importance of sharing intelligence.

“We are grateful that intelligence is working now,” Zelenskyy said, explaining that early warning of approaching ballistic missiles is crucial for protecting the civilian population, particularly children.

After speaking with Rubio, the Ukrainian president also posted on social media: “Thank you to everyone in America who supports fair approaches!” However, he did not mention Trump.
Earlier, following the clash between the two presidents in the Oval Office in February 2025, Kyiv quickly returned to diplomatic rhetoric and expressed gratitude to the U.S. leadership. Ukraine sought to preserve its partnership with the U.S. and even proposed an immediate, unconditional ceasefire, which Russia rejected.

Now, as noted in the article, Ukrainian authorities are trying both to draw attention to issues with U.S. support and to prevent a complete breakdown in relations.

Is a Further Escalation Possible?

Ukrainian political analyst Vitaly Portnikov believes that Trump’s statements have put Zelenskyy in a difficult position. According to him, the Ukrainian president has decided to focus on specific facts, and his administration has begun to speak openly about the difficulties associated with U.S. restrictions.

Zelenskyy also discussed the situation during a video call with a bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers. As noted in the article, Kyiv can count on domestic political pressure in the U.S. to hold back further moves by the Trump administration.

At the same time, relations between the countries may still change. The political situation in the United States—in particular, the upcoming midterm elections—could influence Washington’s approach to Russia and Ukraine.

Portnikov pointed out that Rubio found time to speak with Zelenskyy even during his trip to Asia: “If the Ukrainian president makes strong statements directed against the United States, while the secretary of state finds time to speak with him during a trip to Asia, this indicates that the Trump administration is not prepared for a rupture in U.S.-Ukrainian relations.”

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