Ukraine Races to Salvage U.S. Alliance After Trump Halts Aid
The New York Times
“We are working on all possible scenarios to protect Ukraine,” said President Volodymyr Zelensky, whose country was looking to European allies for support.
A day after President Trump ordered the suspension of American military assistance, Ukrainian diplomats and politicians scrambled on Tuesday to find a way to salvage their alliance with Washington while the war weary nation prepared for the possibility that it will have to fight on without U.S. support.
With the White House and the Kremlin growing ever more closely aligned, Ukraine was seeking to shore up support from its European allies, many of whom were quick to offer reassurances on Tuesday. Military officials were assessing how long Ukraine’s own stockpiles would last before the situation led to critical gaps on the front.
President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine did not comment directly on the aid suspension — which will affect more than $1 billion in arms and ammunition in the pipeline and on order — but he convened senior civilian and military leaders to discuss “special issues concerning our national resilience.”
“We are working on all possible scenarios to protect Ukraine,” he said in his nightly address to the nation on Monday. “The base line scenario is to hold positions and create conditions for proper diplomacy, for the soonest possible end to this war with a decent peace.”
In comments that seemed aimed at addressing President Trump’s accusations that he doesn’t want peace, Mr. Zelensky added: “We need peace — real, fair peace — not endless war. And we need security guarantees.”
