Media: Ukraine looks beyond Washington as support wavers

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appears to be recalibrating Kyiv’s strategy as confidence in sustained US support declines, according to an opinion analysis by Politico.

After spending much of the past year working to secure backing from US President Donald Trump, Zelenskyy is now increasingly focused on how Ukraine could operate with reduced American involvement. He has adopted a more cautious tone regarding future US support and is exploring alternative diplomatic avenues, including the possibility of Türkiye hosting the next round of negotiations with Russia.

Public sentiment in Ukraine reflects this shift. A new national poll by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology shows that only 40 per cent of Ukrainians believe the US will provide the necessary support, a drop of 17 percentage points compared to January. Trust in potential future US security guarantees has also declined, falling from 39 per cent to 27 per cent.

Zelenskyy has openly criticised recent remarks by US Vice President JD Vance, who said earlier this month that halting US defence aid to Ukraine and shifting the financial burden to European allies is “one of the things I’m proudest [of].”

“If JD Vance is proud that he’s not helping us, it means that he is helping Russians, and I’m not sure that it’s strengthening the United States,” Zelenskyy said in an interview with Newsmax. “Russia is the enemy. They will always be enemies with the United States.”

Tensions have also surfaced within the US administration. Acting US Ambassador to Ukraine Julie Davis announced she will leave her post in the coming weeks amid reported disagreements with the president. Meanwhile, Republican lawmakers pressed Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth over delays in releasing $400 million in congressionally approved aid to Ukraine. Hegseth later confirmed that the funds would be disbursed.

Analysts say the Trump administration’s prioritisation of Iran over Ukraine is influencing European security planning. Ian Bremmer, president of Eurasia Group, said the shift is “leading Europeans to prepare more urgently for collective security outside of the United States’ Article V commitment.”

Former NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen echoed these concerns, calling for “a strong European [defense] pillar” in response to the evolving security landscape.

“Since childhood, I have admired the United States. I saw the United States as a natural leader of the free world,” Rasmussen said during an appearance on Euro News. “It’s been painful to conclude that we have to reduce our dependence on the United States, but that is the state of affairs today.”

European officials acknowledge that reducing reliance on the US will take time, given decades of close cooperation. At the same time, some continue to view Washington as essential to ending the war.

“Continued US engagement is necessary though because they have serious leverage,” one European official said. “It would be great to see US negotiators visit Kyiv. At minimum, the US should continue military and intelligence support to Ukraine. But I think Europeans could assume a greater role and bring a new dynamic to the talks, provided the Americans keep supporting Ukraine and help guarantee whatever is agreed. After all, Trump wants this war to end.”

By Tamilla Hasanova