Can Trump Really End the War in Ukraine?
A Ukrainian Nobel Peace Prize winner weighs in on his prospects.
By John Haltiwanger, a reporter at Foreign Policy.
French President Emmanuel Macron and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky meet with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump at Élysée Palace in Paris on Dec. 7, 2024. Oleg Nikishin/Getty Images
December 13, 2024, 2:55 PM
Donald Trump’s victory in the 2024 U.S. presidential election raised immediate questions and concerns in Ukraine amid its war with Russia. Trump has been critical of the Biden administration’s strong support for Kyiv and has expressed opposition to further U.S. aid. But if U.S. assistance dried up, Ukraine would struggle to sustain its forces in a fight against Russia, which has far more resources and manpower.
It’s a critical moment for Ukraine, as Russia continues to make advances in the eastern part of the country and as the war becomes more global in scope—with North Korean forces recently joining the fight on Moscow’s behalf.