US media: Trump softens stance on Ukraine war, leaving Europe uneasy

US President Donald Trump’s tough position on the war in Ukraine has softened in recent weeks, leaving European allies confused about his ultimate goal.

Trump now appears far less inclined to support Kyiv or push for an end to the conflict, according to the latest report by Fox News.

The shift reportedly began “quietly two weeks ago” when Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited Washington.

Many expected Trump to approve the delivery of long-range Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine, but he did not.

Shortly afterwards, the US Department of Defence announced the withdrawal of a rotational Army brigade stationed in Romania, as well as units based in Hungary and Bulgaria. Trump called the troop pullback “insignificant,” though European partners viewed it differently.

The softening of Trump’s stance was also evident during his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on October 30.

Despite previously urging India to limit purchases of Russian oil, Trump made no similar demands of Xi. The issue of ending the war was raised as well, but in a notably less insistent tone.

"We really didn’t discuss the oil," he told reporters afterwards.

According to Fox News, for a president who promised to ‘end the war on day one,’ these comments reflect a shift from urgency to resignation — and a foreign policy increasingly reactive rather than strategic.

However, not everyone in Europe is alarmed by the change, noting that Trump has imposed effective sanctions on Russian energy giants Lukoil and Rosneft.

While Russia launched a massive overnight assault on Thursday, October 30, firing 705 missiles and drones at Ukrainian cities, according to the Ukrainian Air Force, many of the projectiles were intercepted, but four civilians were killed in the attacks.

Trump continues to claim his administration seeks peace “through strength,” yet his recent actions and rhetoric suggest a more ambiguous strategy — one that has left US allies uncertain about the direction of his Ukraine policy.

By Jeyhun Aghazada