KYIV, Ukraine — As Ukraine nears the third anniversary of Russia’s extensive invasion, its aspirations for a stable and favorable peace were abruptly disrupted by actions from the U.S. administration led by President Donald Trump. Over the years, Ukraine had received unwavering backing from its allies in the United States and Europe, which offered essential military and financial assistance to counteract Russia’s persistent aggression.
A notable shift occurred during a lengthy telephone call between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, which took place last week. This conversation marked a departure from longstanding U.S. policies aimed at isolating the Russian leader due to his hostile actions. Following this call, Kyiv and various European nations interpreted the shift as a sign of weakening alliances intended to contain Moscow.
To summarize significant events in this period:
**Wednesday, February 12**
In a 90-minute conversation, Trump and Putin initiated discussions on negotiating an end to the war, a move that was celebrated in Russia. However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy cautioned that excluding Ukraine from negotiations could pose significant risks. Following the call, Trump updated Zelenskyy, but U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth remarked that Ukraine’s NATO membership aspirations were unrealistic. He urged Ukraine to let go of ambitions to reclaim all lost territory, an assertion that closely aligns with Moscow’s standpoint.
The rapid changes in U.S. policy left many Ukrainians feeling sidelined, with concerns that a potential agreement brokered by Washington and Moscow might threaten Ukraine’s territorial integrity and expose the nation to further Russian aggression.
**Friday, February 14**
European leaders had their first opportunity to engage with members of the new Trump administration at the Munich Security Conference in Germany, seeking clarity regarding Trump’s stance on the ongoing conflict. They were taken aback when U.S. officials, including Vice President JD Vance, criticized European nations, shared mixed messages about support for Ukraine, and indicated that Europe would not be included in negotiations regarding Ukraine.
During discussions between Vance and Zelenskyy, the Ukrainian president emphasized that security guarantees were essential for Ukraine to consider any negotiations with Russia. Zelenskyy also instructed his ministers not to endorse a proposed deal that would allow the U.S. access to Ukraine’s rare earth minerals. He conveyed disappointment that the U.S. proposal lacked explicit security commitments in exchange for access to critical minerals necessary for industries like aerospace and defense.
A senior official from the White House deemed the Ukrainian rejection as “short-sighted.”
**Sunday, February 16**
On the concluding day of the Munich conference, French President Emmanuel Macron began galvanizing European leaders to enhance their support for Ukraine. His foreign minister announced an urgent meeting in Paris to deliberate the continent’s subsequent actions. Concurrently, amid worries that U.S. backing for Ukraine might be waning, a coalition of European nations quietly developed plans to deploy troops to Ukraine to enforce any peace settlement with Russia.
**Tuesday, February 18**
U.S. and Russian representatives convened in Saudi Arabia, excluding Kyiv and its European allies from the discussions. The two nations announced a commitment to collaborate in order to end the war and improve diplomatic and economic relations, marking a significant shift in U.S. foreign policy.
Despite this, the three U.S. officials at the Riyadh meeting—Secretary of State Marco Rubio, national security adviser Mike Waltz, and Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff—asserted that the talks primarily focused on gauging Russia’s willingness to pursue a peace agreement, without presenting any concrete proposals. They stressed that neither Ukraine nor European allies had been sidelined entirely, as Trump, Vance, and Rubio had communicated with Zelenskyy and European officials anticipated to be involved when peace negotiations commenced.
Zelenskyy dismissed the Riyadh discussions, claiming they would produce no meaningful outcomes without Ukrainian involvement. He subsequently canceled a planned visit to Saudi Arabia to avoid any association with the U.S.-Russia talks.
Trump, less receptive to Kyiv’s criticism regarding its exclusion from Riyadh, intensified his provocative discourse, provoking outrage and concern in Ukraine. From his resort in Mar-a-Lago, Trump suggested that Ukraine bore responsibility for the outbreak of the war, which has claimed countless Ukrainian lives, and criticized Zelenskyy for postponing elections amidst the ongoing conflict, adhering to Ukrainian constitutional law.
**Wednesday, February 19**
Trump’s remarks, combined with a social media post labeling Zelenskyy as a “dictator,” prompted Zelenskyy to assert that Trump’s statements contained “disinformation” stemming from Russia, expressing a desire for Trump’s team to present a more truthful narrative. Zelenskyy claimed Trump was operating within a “disinformation space” crafted by Russian narratives.
As tensions between the two leaders escalated, attention remained on a pivotal visit by Trump’s special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, Ret. Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, who arrived in Kyiv for discussions with Zelenskyy and other officials. Kellogg, a long-standing defense advisor to Trump, was expected to clarify the U.S. efforts to terminate the conflict, and Zelenskyy was keen to explain the situation in Ukraine to him.
**Thursday, February 20**
A scheduled press conference following the meeting between Zelenskyy and Kellogg was unexpectedly called off at the U.S. delegation’s request.
**Friday, February 21**
In a contrasting tone compared to previous days, Kellogg later shared on social media that he had a “long and intense day with the senior leadership of Ukraine.” He portrayed the discussions positively, highlighting interactions with “the embattled and courageous leader of a nation at war and his talented national security team.” Nonetheless, Trump persisted in his critiques of Zelenskyy, expressing frustration over a recent trip to Kyiv by U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, which he characterized as “a wasted trip” following Ukraine’s reluctance to agree to a U.S. proposal regarding rare earth minerals.
Amidst this, Waltz expressed optimism that Zelenskyy would eventually agree to a deal, asserting, “Here’s the bottom line. President Zelenskyy is going to sign that deal.” Trump, in an interview on Fox News, dismissed Zelenskyy’s grievances about the Saudi discussions, expressing confidence that Putin was eager to finalize a deal. “He doesn’t have to make a deal,” Trump stated regarding Putin. “Because if he wanted, he would get the whole country.”
