Trump’s re-election prospects stir doubts in Ukraine over continued U.S. aid

Politico reported the information.

Ukrainians responded with a mix of worry and determination to the likelihood of Donald Trump’s return to the U.S. presidency, following his Wednesday pledge to “stop war.”

With nearly three years of full-scale war behind them, Kyiv officials indicated Ukraine might increasingly look to other Western allies as it contends with new Russian advances, now reportedly supported by North Korean forces. Trump has repeatedly promised to end the war in Ukraine “in one day” and suggested halting U.S. aid, a critical support line for Kyiv.

In a pragmatic message on social media, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned a positive meeting with Trump last September and praised his “commitment to the ‘peace through strength’ approach.” Still, he underlined a desire for “continued strong bipartisan support” from the U.S.

Despite Ukraine’s emphasis on bipartisan backing in Washington, a Trump win casts uncertainty over future aid. Trump's Republican Party previously blocked U.S. assistance from October 2023 to April 2024, straining Ukraine’s military budget and impacting its frontline forces. Kyiv’s mood Wednesday was somber yet determined.

Tymofiy Mylovanov, president of the Kyiv School of Economics, voiced skepticism online, remarking, “We’ll have to live in Trump’s world now,” and doubting Trump’s claim of a swift end to the war.

Trump’s unpredictability keeps Ukrainians on edge about his potential impact. Though he has often boasted of his ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin and labeled Zelenskyy “the greatest salesman in history,” Trump also claims he once threatened to bomb Moscow if Putin attacked Ukraine.

Oleksandr Merezhko, head of Ukraine's foreign relations committee, expressed cautious optimism, suggesting Kyiv could still work with a Trump administration by adapting its approach. "Trump is a pragmatic businessman," he told Politico, adding that Ukraine will likely need to make a stronger case to secure U.S. support.