A dramatic spat between the US and Ukrainian leaders raises concerns about continued US aid for Ukraine’s war effort.
Amid uncertainty and unease, Ukrainians have expressed their fears over the potential withdrawal of US support for their war-torn nation following a heated exchange between the presidents of the United States and Ukraine at the Oval Office.
The world watched in shock as a press conference on Friday between Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Donald Trump further strained the already fragile US-Ukraine relationship.
The two leaders, along with US Vice President JD Vance, clashed over differing strategies to end the three-year conflict. Zelenskyy sought security guarantees from a Trump administration that has shifted US foreign policy dramatically, aligning more closely with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s viewpoint.
Ukrainians, many hardened by years of war, rallied behind Zelenskyy but also voiced concerns about the future of US support as Russian forces, larger and better-equipped, advance across eastern Ukraine.
“I doubt we could survive without American help. They’ve provided us with weapons and money. Maybe Europe will step in,” said Liudmyla Stetsevych, a 47-year-old resident of Kyiv, in an interview with Reuters.
“Trump and Putin are carving up the world—that’s how I see it. I don’t know what will come of it,” she added.
Other Ukrainians expressed hope that their European allies would increase political and military support if the US scaled back its assistance.
“Many European countries have voiced their support for Ukraine. We hope they’ll step up and provide more aid, especially military equipment and ammunition,” said Alina Zhaivoronko from Kyiv.
According to the Institute for the War Study, the European Union, the United Kingdom, and Norway have collectively provided more than $204 billion in direct military and non-military aid to Ukraine, surpassing the US’s $183 billion.
Still, the US remains a critical supplier of air defense systems and intelligence to Ukrainian forces. Many in Kyiv worry that without Washington’s backing, Ukraine’s chances in the war look grim.
Zhaivoronko noted that Ukrainians are “very grateful” to the US “for the support we’ve received and continue to receive. But our dignity and honor must come first.”
“It was an unpleasant shock, like being doused with cold water. The format of the discussion was unexpected. Diplomatically, President Zelenskyy should have adhered to norms and rules. But on the other hand, it felt like a provocation,” she added.
During the meeting with Trump, Zelenskyy repeatedly insisted that any deal with the US must include concrete security guarantees for Ukraine, particularly if Putin violates a ceasefire. The Ukrainian president has previously accused Moscow of breaking truce agreements 25 times, including during Trump’s first term.
After the public spat, Zelenskyy left the White House abruptly without signing a highly anticipated minerals deal. He later declined to apologize for the confrontation, stating he regretted the public fallout but wished Trump had been more aligned with Ukraine’s position.
“Americans don’t understand the reality here,” said Ella Kazantseva, 54, speaking to Reuters near a sea of flags in central Kyiv honoring Ukraine’s war dead.
“They don’t get it. Life is easy for them.”
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