Trump says Russia has been fine on Ukraine

U.S. President Donald Trump said Russia frankly has been fine on Ukraine and they have not been doing that much, dismissing the conflict as one-sided.

“Russia frankly has been fine on Ukraine. They have not been doing that much.”

Europeans see U.S. taking Russia's side

Residents of Kyiv enduring intensifying bombardment and Ukraine's European allies view Trump's remark as confirmation the U.S. is siding with Russia in the war.

EU diplomat accuses U.S. of pushing surrender

Kaja Kallas, the EU's top diplomat, told the European Parliament on Tuesday that American negotiators have been trying to push Ukraine into surrender for almost two years.

“American negotiators have been trying to push Ukraine into surrender for already almost two years.”

Officials suspect Trump's motives are personal

European officials and diplomats believe Trump's turn against Ukraine stems from his personal preferences rather than U.S. political aims or strategic interests.

Trump drawn to dictators and autocrats

David Lidington, former British Cabinet minister and fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, says Trump's self-centeredness and preference for dictators drive his motivation.

“Trump is self-centered, his personal predilections for dictators and autocrats, his desire to give opportunities to U.S. businesses … are very important parts of his motivation.”

Trump simply does not like Zelenskyy

An EU government official who has observed both men closely said Trump does not like Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, making it harder to get U.S. help on peace.

“Trump doesn't like Zelenskyy. He just doesn't like him.”

Trump consistently supportive of Russians

An EU diplomat said Trump has been critical of Ukraine, the EU and NATO but hardly ever said anything critical about Putin, striking a consistent pro-Russian stance.

“He seems to be supportive of the Russians.”

Ukraine faces mounting losses and pressure

After four and a half years of war, Kyiv is running low on funding and air defenses while facing potential loss of political support amid Europe's populist right surge.

Trump pressures Zelenskyy, not Putin

Trump has ratcheted up pressure on Zelenskyy amid escalating Russian attacks, saying he does not care and should be replaced, while offering Putin a three-way leaders summit.

“President Zelenskyy could have solved this war, or he could have made a deal, many times.”

Animosity may date to 2019 investigation

Lidington said Trump's hostility toward Zelenskyy may stem from 2019 when Trump urged the Ukrainian leader to help investigate Joe Biden, with hostile encounters reinforcing it since.

Ukraine losing U.S. military support

Zelenskyy warned Ukraine is suffering more civilian casualties because the U.S. has cut back support including Starlink and Starshield services, with no explanation given.

“We still have no explanation for this, just different strange stories.”

Civilian deaths surge as support falters

The U.N. Human Rights Monitoring Mission reported three hundred twenty eight civilians killed and more than two thousand wounded across Ukraine last month, an eighty five percent increase from September.