The United States’ decades-long stance on Ukraine fractured abruptly last week as the Trump administration pivoted toward direct peace negotiations with Russia, sidelining Kyiv and alarming European allies. This seismic US-Ukraine policy shift unfolded through backchannel diplomacy, contentious summits, and public rebukes that left NATO’s unity in question.
Central to the upheaval was President Trump’s 90-minute call with Vladimir Putin, during which both leaders agreed to negotiate an end to Russia’s invasion without Ukrainian representation.
This isn’t diplomacy – it’s capitulation,argued a senior EU official, speaking anonymously due to the sensitivity of ongoing talks.
The Munich Security Conference became a flashpoint as Vice President JD Vance criticized European defense spending while refusing to confirm continued US military aid. Key developments include:
- Zelenskyy’s refusal to grant US access to Ukraine’s rare earth mineral reserves absent security guarantees
- France mobilizing emergency EU support amid fears of American withdrawal
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio bypassing Ukraine in Riyadh talks with Moscow
Trump further inflamed tensions by asserting “Ukraine bears responsibility for the war’s origins” during a Mar-a-Lago press briefing – a claim Zelenskyy attributed to Russian disinformation campaigns. Despite envoy Keith Kellogg’s conciliatory Kyiv visit, the administration continues linking rare earth mineral concessions to potential peace deals.
European nations now confront an unprecedented challenge: 17 countries are reportedly drafting plans to deploy peacekeeping forces independently if US-Russia negotiations fail. As Macron’s foreign minister warned,
The transatlantic security framework risks disintegration unless Washington clarifies its objectives.
With Ukraine’s NATO aspirations declared “unrealistic” by Pentagon leadership and Moscow gaining diplomatic momentum, the conflict’s trajectory hinges on whether Trump’s transactional approach can achieve what traditional diplomacy could not – or if it permanently fractures Western alliances.
