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A betrayal of Ukraine and Europe—this is what Trump is doing now. Ukraine is fighting for the right to exist as an independent state. Donald Trump has repeatedly turned American support into leverage against the country’s leadership. In my view, this is what makes the word ‘betrayal’ so fitting: those who need protection from an aggressor are being pressured through threats of losing that help.

The image above is an AI-generated, symbolic illustration of broken trust.

Betraying Ukraine, Supporting the Aggressor

Working for peace is necessary. So are diplomatic talks with Russia. However, a peace process must be evaluated based on the conditions it creates for the people who have to live with the outcome. If Ukraine is weakened to make the country more compliant at the negotiating table, the result could be a deal that rewards military aggression.

This is the background for the criticism of Trump’s Ukraine policy. The question isn’t just whether he wants to end the war. The question is who has to pay the price. The U.S. President is setting the stage for Russia, which started the war, to be rewarded. Might makes right in Trump’s world. That Trump is failing Ukraine was also evident during his first term as president.

The History from Trump’s First Term

Already during Trump’s first presidential term, support for Ukraine was withheld. In January 2020, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) concluded that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) had broken the law when it halted the allocation of approximately $214 million in security assistance in 2019. The funds had been appropriated by Congress. The GAO stated that the President’s political priorities did not grant permission to withhold them. This was a legal assessment from Congress’s watchdog, not just an accusation from Trump’s political opponents. U.S. GAO

This incident shows how dangerous it is when aid to a vulnerable country becomes dependent on a president’s shifting whims. For the recipient, the support is about the ability to defend themselves. For the donor, it can become a means to achieve something else. Trump chose betrayal toward Ukraine back then as well.

Trump’s Second Term – Once Again He Fails Ukraine

In February 2025, a new serious signal arrived. Trump referred to Volodymyr Zelenskyy as a dictator and suggested that Ukraine itself had started the war. Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022. Reuters also pointed out that Ukrainian elections could not be held under the martial law introduced after the invasion. Using the lack of elections as a basis for the ‘dictator’ label thus omitted a crucial part of the explanation. investing.com

Words from an American president matter. When responsibility for the war is shifted from the aggressor to the victim, it becomes harder to maintain a clear justification for supporting Ukraine. At the same time, Russia is helped in sowing doubt about who bears the responsibility.

In March 2025, action followed. The U.S. paused both military aid and intelligence-sharing to pressure Kyiv into cooperating on peace talks. Reuters described how the halt could weaken Ukraine’s ability to protect itself against Russian missile attacks. However, the exact scope of the intelligence halt was unclear. investing.com

The pause was lifted after the talks in Jeddah on March 11. At the same time, Ukraine declared itself willing to accept a temporary 30-day ceasefire, provided there was Russian agreement and simultaneous implementation. This must be noted: the halt was temporary, and Ukraine showed a concrete willingness for a ceasefire. Reuters

Nevertheless, the precedence was serious. Aid that contributes to the country’s defense could be withdrawn to influence the country’s political decisions.

The Latest Development: Trump Supports Putin

The picture is not that all American support later disappeared. According to the UK Parliament’s research service, the Trump administration had not asked Congress for new military aid appropriations as of August 2026, while deliveries from previous decisions continued. Through the PURL scheme, European allies could also finance American weapons for Ukraine. House of Commons Library

Europe should take greater responsibility for its own security. But the transition gives cause for concern if Ukraine’s access to necessary weapons becomes more uncertain along the way.

This month, the relationship has again deteriorated sharply. Reuters reports on American threats to cut intelligence support and disruptions to the Starshield satellite service. Reuters links the information about an order from the White House to anonymous officials. Trump has simultaneously said that intelligence-sharing continues. There is therefore no basis to describe a full halt as confirmed. Reuters

Trump has also defended a deal regarding Russian diesel. When asked if the proceeds could be used for more bombs, he did not directly address the issue, according to Reuters. Trump is not only failing Ukraine but also NATO allies.

My assessment of Trump’s policy

My assessment is that the combination is deeply problematic: Ukraine faces uncertainty regarding critical support, while Russia is offered economic openings. This could weaken trust in the U.S. and make it harder for Ukraine to negotiate from a more secure position.

A lasting peace requires that Ukraine can survive as an independent country even after a deal is signed. Therefore, security guarantees, defensive capabilities, and the Ukrainians’ own influence must be central.

This is where Trump’s policy fails. When support is used to pressure the victim, the peace process risks making the aggressor’s power the foundation of the peace. Ukraine’s future deserves a better yardstick than how quickly an American president can declare that he has made a deal.