Volodymyr Zelensky and Donald Trump at a meeting in September 2024.Image: trapezoid
An unpredictable former US president returns to the White House. Concerns became evident during the talks in Kiev, and the future U.S. vice president offered little hope.
Niklas Golitschek Sergey Panashchuk from Kiev / t-online
An article by
Now there is finally certainty. Donald Trump won the US presidential election last Tuesday and will therefore determine the fate of the United States for the next four years. The former president's re-election is a worry not only for America's enemies but also for its allies.
This is especially true for Ukraine. After all, Trump boasted during the campaign that he could end the war in 24 hours because of his good relations with Kremlin Chairman Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Since then, concerns have grown in the West that Republicans could pressure Ukraine's leaders to agree to a peace that would be disadvantageous to them.
But what do Ukrainians think about this? T-Online asked about Kyiv's Independence Square.
Vasily Pazniak(56)
“Europe must grow”
“Without American support, Ukraine will cease to be an independent country,” Vasily Paznyak firmly believes. The 56-year-old doctor from Kyiv is also watching election day closely. With Donald Trump's electoral success, Ukraine's future appears more uncertain than ever.
Vasyl Pazynyak, a 56-year-old doctor.Image: T Online
Pazniak spoke of the “tremendous uncertainty and fear” brought about by the election results. Ukraine has repeatedly chafed at the push for hardline support in recent months – but at least it's coming. For Trump, entering the White House in January will be marked by great uncertainty. “He was unpredictable and could change his mind three times a day,” Pazniak said.
Especially in recent months, Trump has sent contradictory signals to Kyiv. On the one hand, he showed a clear edge when he said he bombed Moscow in response to the major attack. However, the greater impact on his foreign policy was the ability to end the war within 24 hours. However, Trump is open to details on how it will be implemented.
Trump's travesty – First election promise already broken
Trump has made this promise numerous times: at fundraisers, campaign appearances and even television interviews.
In fact, Trump had spoken to the Ukrainian president after his election victory. Zelensky later said it was a “great call.” Both politicians are said to have agreed to continue talks.
“Will he order us to give up? “I'm more scared now,” Pazniak said. He has the impression that Americans are not interested in foreign policy, and for Ukraine that could mean its own survival The struggle will be costly.
For the 56-year-old, the election results mean that Europe must pay more attention to its own security. «Europe must grow. Europe needs a wake-up call,” he said. Trump's threat to withdraw the United States from NATO is Putin's grand dream, and the Russian dictator will exploit any sign of weakness.
Natalia Stukal
'A lot of worry and concern'
Natalia Stukal hopes for further cooperation with the United States under Trump.Image: T Online
On the other hand, the question is what support will look like under U.S. President Kamala Harris. “I have a lot of worries and concerns,” Natalia Stukal said. Congratulations to Trump by European heads of state at least gave hope that the partnership was still possible. In the 56-year-old's view, Trump's last term had no negative impact on Ukraine.
Mikola Palovic (76)
The uncertainty brought about by the US election, and now the end of Germany's Traffic Light Alliance, has once again exposed Ukraine's dependence on its allies. Therefore, Mikola Pavlovich wanted his country to be more independent.
Mykola Pavlovich criticized Ukraine's reliance on its allies.Image: T Online
“We have to make our own decisions and not wait for help from others,” the 76-year-old said. While Ukraine is grateful for the aid, it must decide its own fate. Especially since the current indications are not that she will be able to get more help in the future.
Soldier Yevgeny (45)
“We fight for freedom every day”
Soldier Yevgeny hopes to gain support from other NATO countries.Image: T Online
Soldier Yevgeny also hopes that the Ukrainian government will draw conclusions from this situation. “We still have a lot of work to do for the country's survival and reform. Now is the time to fight corruption,” the 45-year-old said. He doesn’t expect Trump to bring any positive news to his country.
But even more worrisome is future Vice President Vance’s Ukraine peace plan. “He told us that he wanted us to surrender to Russia,” Yevgeny concluded.
That's why he hopes other NATO countries will continue to support his country. Because the biggest challenge facing Ukraine remains unchanged.
“We fight for freedom every day,” Yevgeny stressed. However, future framework conditions are uncertain.
source
(t-online/dsc)
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