U.S. President Donald Trump has cast doubt on Ukraine’s ability to withstand Russia’s invasion, even with continued American assistance.
Speaking on Fox News’ Sunday Morning Futures, Trump responded to questions about his administration’s decision to pause military and intelligence support to Kyiv. When asked about a stark warning from Polish President Andrzej Duda — who stated that “without American support, Ukraine will not survive” — Trump replied, “Well, it may not survive anyway.”
He added, “But we have some weaknesses with Russia. You know, it takes two,” suggesting broader geopolitical complexities in the ongoing conflict.
The remarks come amid increasing concerns over a cooling relationship between Kyiv and Washington.
The United States, along with the European Union, has been one of Ukraine’s principal allies since Russia launched its full-scale land, air, and sea offensive nearly three years ago.
Tensions escalated further following a reportedly tense and unproductive meeting between President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House on February 28.
The fallout from that meeting prompted Trump to order a suspension of aid and intelligence sharing, with sources indicating he is pushing for a negotiated ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia.
According to insiders, Trump has also signaled that a pending minerals agreement between the U.S. and Ukraine will not be sufficient to restore military aid unless there is a significant shift in Kyiv’s stance on peace talks.
The president is said to be growing increasingly impatient with what he perceives as a rigid approach from Zelenskyy’s administration.
Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts continue. President Zelenskyy is expected to meet Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Monday, while Ukrainian officials prepare for high-level talks with a U.S. delegation scheduled for Tuesday.