Amidst the Russia-Ukraine war, a deeper mistrust is building between US and Ukraine. Recently it is alleged that the US stopped intelligence sharing and access to Starshield- which is a SpaceX satellite internet service reserved for military use and owned by billionaire Elon Musk. Though the service was later restored the Ukraine claimed that the damage had already been done.
Washington and Kyiv Relationship Under Strain: The US will be buying diesel from Russia reversing years of US sanctions on Moscow. This decision was taken to buy cheap diesel to ease of the pressure on common Americans who have been hit hard by ongoing cost of living crisis.
As Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky criticised the decision calling it a betrayal Trump hit back saying “time for Ukraine to get a new president”.
This blow hot and cold US policy is undermining the war efforts? Under Joe Biden the administration was more supportive providing almost uninterrupted financial and military support. But how Trump and Biden are different. In essence both put American interest first, both have shown no guarantee of Ukraine entry to NATO.
Biden also hesitated before supplying advanced weapons such as long-range ATACMS missiles and F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine. While Trump in 2025 halted military aid and intelligence-sharing to Ukraine temporarily.
Whether its Biden’s cautious approach or Trump’s conditional assistance both have vastly eroded the Ukraine’s capability to defend itself.
Is Ukraine loosing favour with Trump: The differences between Trump and Zelensky is not new. While Trump advocates rapid negotiations; Zelenskyy emphasises security and sovereignty. In February 2025 the two leaders exchanged heated arguments during a meeting in White House Oval Office. In February 2025 Trump called Zelenskyy a “dictator without elections”. The recent dispute between Trump and Zelensky can further prolong the war in Ukraine without any peace.
Though Zelensky has more or less adopted a balanced approach towards Trump it is understandable given the support it needs from USA.
Here it is could be presumed that not giving unequivocal support to Ukraine and criticising its leadership has only bolstered Russia to continue war despite international condemnation. The differences will only send a message to Moscow that there is lack of resolve between the western block and also eroding diplomatic leverage to Kyiv.
European support and challenges in helping Ukraine: Recent EU Leaders’ summit in Brussels discussed in detail the Ukraine crisis and rallied behind Zelensky. They also, reiterated to keep sanctions on Russia as long as the invasion does not end.
To counter Russia’s escalation Zelensky asked the EU leaders for an additional €70bn in financial and military support next year. EU has designed €90 billion loan on the assumption that it would cover both 2026 and 2027. EU leaders tasked the Commission to come up with a proposal on how to address Kyiv’s financial needs.
So far EU has given €228.7 billion in overall support to Ukraine, which includes financial, military and other assistance. The military assistance has been close to around €93 billion.
But Zelensky’s fresh demands may not be easy to meet as soaring borrowing cost make joint debt unpalatable. Also, the bilateral contributions will put extra burden on few wealthy nations. Also, the issue of immobilised Russian assets remains divisive.
The EU has increased its financial assistance which has been substantial and continuing. However, there remains a gap in delivery of military assistance. For example, it was promised to supply one million artillery rounds within 12 months in March 2023 but it reached the target eight months later in November 2024.
In fact EU itself depends heavily on US for sophisticated weapons and faces gap in areas such as air defence, intelligence, and strategic transport.
Also, Europe has not agreed to use frozen Russian assets in full, an issue on which there are already sharp political differences.
Amidst this scenario Russia has territorial advantage having seized Ukrainian territories but Ukraine has been giving a tough fight and using new methods to strike Russian targets. Though Ukrainian territory currently controlled by Russia, including Crimea and pre-2022 occupied areas is around 19 per cent.
There is no clear winner in this full fledged war so far which is continuing since 2022 in which battlefield adaptation, air defence, long-range weapons and Western support all matter.
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