Ukraine is bracing for a potential future without US military aid following a fiery exchange between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and the new US administration led by Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance. The confrontation, which unfolded on Friday, has left the already tense relationship between Washington and Kyiv in further disarray.
Political analyst Volodymyr Fesenko described the shouting match as “a defeat for both sides” and warned that Ukraine should have “no illusions” about continued US military support. The potential loss of US aid could be significant, as Washington has been a key provider of not only arms but also military intelligence and communications assistance.
Despite the Oval Office altercation, Zelensky told Fox News that he still believed the relationship with Trump could be salvaged. However, he admitted that continuing the fight against Russia would be far more challenging without American backing.
Since the start of Russia’s invasion in February 2022, the United States has provided Ukraine with 64 billion euros in military aid, while total financial, humanitarian, and military support reached approximately 114.2 billion euros ($119.8 billion), according to the Kiel Institute. The European Union and individual European nations have contributed around 132.3 billion euros.
With the US administration appearing to distance itself from Ukraine, Kyiv is increasingly looking toward European allies for support. A source within Ukraine’s presidency said that the confrontation with Trump was a “logical answer” to determining “who is our friend and who is our enemy.” The source also emphasized the importance of forming “a new alliance with European countries to protect freedom, democracy, and shared values.”
While some have praised Zelensky for standing up to Trump, others, such as opposition lawmaker Oleksiy Goncharenko, have criticized the public dispute, calling it “absolute idiocy” and warning of severe consequences if US aid is halted.
Despite the heated exchange, the White House has not made any official announcements regarding an immediate suspension of aid. The online publication European Pravda noted that Washington seems hesitant to “burn bridges” entirely, but uncertainty looms over the future of US-Ukraine relations. As Kyiv pivots towards Europe, the coming months will be critical in determining whether European nations can step up quickly enough to fill the gap left by waning US support.
