Monday, Feb. 25 marked the third anniversary of the start of the Russia-Ukraine war. Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelensky made comments on X praising the Ukrainian people, “Three years of resistance. Three years of gratitude. Three years of absolute heroism of Ukrainians,” while also expressing his “eternal gratitude to the fallen heroes.”

This comes after over a dozen world leaders traveled to Kyiv on Monday to show support for Ukraine in response to the third anniversary of the conflict. In addition, leaders announced a new support package for Ukraine, and it looks like they might be alone following the Trump administration’s efforts to distance themselves from other European allies.

Also, at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, the United States abstained from a resolution which said Russia was at fault for the invasion of Ukraine. Others opposed included countries like Russia, North Korea and Israel. The United States posed a draft resolution which called for an end to the war but did not call Russia the aggressor or acknowledge Russia’s impediment of Ukraine’s territory. 

In spite of all the bloodshed and destruction during the war, on the anniversary of the conflict,  Russia launched a record 267 drones destroying a large amount of property and killing at least three people. According to Ukraine’s air force, Ukrainian air defenses downed 138 drones with another 119 “lost”, and reported that the Dnipropetrovsk, Odessa, Kyiv and Khmelnytskyi regions “suffered” but didn’t provide further details. 

In response to the growing threat to the security of Ukraine and Europe, The European Union said they would place further sanctions on Russia which target Russian aluminium and oil transports and would prevent the spread of propaganda by banning Russia media outlets in Europe. The United Kingdom announced new sanctions against Russia, designed to target Russia’s growing military force and countries who trade with them, having described them as the biggest package since the early days of the war.

Meanwhile, recent comments by President Donald Trump pander to Russian propaganda by referring to Zelensky as a dictator.

“He refuses to have elections. He’s low in the real Ukrainian polls. How can you be high with every city being demolished?” Trump said. 

Due to the conflict still going on, although Zelensky’s five-year term was due to end in May 2024, because Ukraine is under martial law following Russia’s invasion of the country in Feb. 2022, elections have been suspended. Trump had claimed that the Ukrainian president only had an approval rating of 4%, but according to BBC Verify, a poll conducted this month found 57% of Ukrainians said they trusted the president. Trump’s comments have given up what leverage Ukraine has in negotiations by siding with Russia.

Many Ukrainians now say they don’t trust the U.S. as a foreign ally following the talks between policy makers in Washington D.C. and Russia without the involvement of Ukraine. 

“We need help, but of course from our European partners. I’m not counting on America,” Ukrainian police officer Anna Anisimova said.

Ukrainian pensioner Yuriy Bilopolsky, echoed the sentiments of many who live in Ukraine who feel they are being “given up” on by foreign governments. He twice tried to enlist in Ukraine’s military but was rejected both times because soldiers are ineligible to be called up for conscription when they reach the age of 55. “

We were hoping for America, but now they are just giving us up and that’s it,” Bilopolsky said. “And Europe was asleep after the Second World War. It is only now waking up.” 

Trump has made the claim that Ukraine is receiving too much aid in an effort to further isolate the country in foreign policy matters and continues with the trend of defunding global peace efforts. Ursula Von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, responded to these claims made by the president which stated U.S. support to Ukraine amounted to $350 billion. According to the Kiel Institute for the World Economy, the actual number is about $119 billion. Von der Leyen also said the European Union and its member states had provided €135 billion ($141 billion) in support for Ukraine since February 2022, more than ‘anyone else’.  

Beyond fiscal policy and economic gain, Ukraine and other European countries are prioritizing achieving an end to the conflict. 

Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister Olga Stefanishyna said Ukraine and the Trump administration were “in the final stages” of negotiating a deal which would give the U.S. rare-earth minerals from Ukraine in exchange for support during the war. However, the deal, although beneficial for the U.S. did not offer any security guarantees in exchange or offer any information about a potential end to the war. 

On Wednesday, Zelensky said success in the deal would depend on the U.S providing security guarantees in the case of future Russian aggression. 

“The Government of the United States of America supports Ukraine’s efforts to obtain security guarantees needed to establish lasting peace,” Zelensky said. 

Zelensky met with Trump and Vice President JD Vance in the Oval Office on Friday, with the intention of signing a critical minerals deal with the U.S., negotiations were brief as Trump and Vance proceeded to berate Zelensky with Trump saying, “You don’t have the cards right now. With us, you start having cards… You’re gambling with World War III, and what you’re doing is very disrespectful to the country, this country, that has backed you.”

Zelensky was escorted out of the White House and a joint press conference that was set to sign the deal giving the U.S. access to Ukraine’s critical mineral supply was canceled, claiming that he was “disrespectful” and “not ready for peace.” 

With the reluctance of Trump and other foreign leaders to acknowledge the role Russia played in the start of the conflict and giving in to the spread of Russia propaganda, the threat that many of these countries play in enabling the continuation of the war is detrimental to achieving an eventual resolution.