Ukrainian authorities are seriously concerned that aid from the United States could dry up if Donald Trump wins the presidency. The discussion surfaced in coverage by Time.
A senior Ukrainian official suggested in a conversation with the publication that the first eight or ten months, essentially all of 2025, would be extremely challenging.
Ukraine is weighing countermeasures that could steer Trump toward supporting Kyiv. The expectation is that a Trump administration would cut financial and military assistance and push Kyiv to negotiate a settlement and end the conflict.
There is a belief that Trump could argue that prolonging the conflict, especially with backing from European partners, serves certain American interests by sustaining jobs and bolstering the economy, particularly in Republican states.
Still, Ukrainian officials hesitate to publicly back any candidate given the high level of uncertainty in the U.S. race and the danger of backing the wrong option.
On July 22, a post from Trump’s son appeared to joke that Zelensky panicked over Biden’s impeachment. The businessman shared what appeared to be a screenshot from the White House chief of staff’s phone, showing unread messages from Zelensky about funds and 52 missed calls.
A former Pentagon adviser floated the idea that Trump might deliver an ultimatum to Zelensky.