EU May Become Ukraine’s Lifeline as US Ties Falter

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has openly criticized a recent pact between the United States and Russia, a stance that has further strained his already tense relationship with former President Donald Trump. Trump has accused Zelenskyy of violating an “energy ceasefire” he declared on his own, adding to the growing discord between the two leaders.

U.S. military aid has been a cornerstone of Kyiv’s defense against Russian forces, and the souring of Trump‑Zelenskyy relations threatens to jeopardize that support as the American midterm elections approach. In response, Ukraine is turning more toward the European Union for assistance. Zelenskyy has appealed to Brussels for additional air‑defence systems, raising the question of whether the bloc will step in to fill the potential gap left by the United States.

The discussion was hosted by James Bays and featured Peter Zalmayev, executive director of the Eurasia Democracy Initiative; independent journalist Leonid Ragozinin, who covers Russia, Ukraine and Eastern Europe; and Mykola Murskyj, senior adviser at Razom, a U.S. nonprofit that backs Ukraine. The program aired on 17 October 2026.