U.S. President Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy, president of Ukraine, held a meeting at the White House on Friday.
Trump and U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance worked together to criticize Zelenskyy. They pushed Zelenskyy to give into Russia’s demands and make peace instead of continuing the fight.
The meeting became heated when Zelenskyy pointed out that Russia had broken promises in the past, when they did not follow a 2019 peace deal. Then, Vance interrupted and told Zelenskyy it was disrespectful for him to argue about this in front of the American media while in the White House.
If Trump changes how the U.S. helps Ukraine, it could have a huge impact on the country’s ability to defend itself against Russia. The U.S. has been a major supporter of Ukraine, providing military aid, weapons, and financial support. I feel as if Trump reduces this help or takes a different approach, Ukraine might struggle more in its fight against Russia.
For instance, if Trump decides to appropriate less military aid, Ukraine might have fewer resources to fight the Russian invasion, making them more vulnerable. This could also weaken the unity of Western countries supporting Ukraine. The U.S. could lose allies or an ally.
Another fear is that U.S. allies could decide to side with Russia or China, now that they see the U.S. abandoning Ukraine. I know that the U.S. has the best military and are widely regarded as the most powerful in the world. It has a massive budget, cutting-edge technology, a large and well-trained standing military, and a significant global presence, but much of that is because of its allies. Those allies supplies the U.S. with intelligence all of the time that helps to keep Americans safe.
Ukraine has been an important partner to the U.S. and NATO, especially since the Russian invasion in 2022. The U.S. military and financial support have been critical in helping Ukraine defend itself. If that support were to end, Ukraine could feel as though the U.S. was abandoning it, which could damage the relationship between the two countries. Although Ukraine could seek out assistance from other allies of the U.S., but that is antithetical to everything that American stands for – democracy. Ukraine’s goals.
The lack of U.S. support could leave Ukraine more vulnerable to Russian influence or even potential control. If Ukraine feels isolated, Russia might seek to take advantage of the opportunity to either expand its region of influence or undermine Ukraine’s sovereignty. Such an outcome would weaken Western influence in the region, and Ukraine might feel more willing to negotiate with Russia, potentially on terms less favorable to its independence.
Ukraine’s international position is crucial for European security, and its defeat or alignment with opposing powers would weaken NATO and possibly reinforce Russia and other global adversaries. If Ukraine pursued alignment with other countries, like Russia or China, it could shift the balance of power in Europe and affect global alliances. If Ukraine is defeated by Russia, it leaves Eastern Europe exposed to Russian aggression. So, NATO’s ability to defend its members would be questioned, especially in Eastern Europe. A fragmented Europe could lead to a more unstable, multipolar world, escalating international conflicts.
This would significantly damage the credibility of the U.S. on the global stage. Allies around the world might begin to question whether the U.S. is a dependable partner, fearing that support could be withdrawn at any time for political reasons. This would make future collaboration with other countries more difficult, as they may hesitate to make any agreements with the U.S. or rely on American backing.
For Ukraine, the lack of U.S. support could lead to a revision of its foreign policy, possibly shifting it towards countries less aligned with U.S. interests, such as Russia or China. This could drastically change Ukraine’s path and influence its political and security decisions. The broader consequences would be felt globally.
European security could weaken, as Ukraine plays a key role in countering Russian aggression. NATO’s unity could be compromised, and the balance of global power could shift, leading to a more fragmented and unstable international order.
Not only is the U.S. safer when it is engaged, but it also saves money. The U.S. is faced with numerous national challenges. Illegal immigration, financing the national debt and an increasingly unpredictable global security environment all compete for attention and resources. But the stakes are especially high in Ukraine.
Even putting aside the security and moral reasons for supporting a free Ukraine, which are immense, backing Ukraine is a financially sound decision for the United States.