Ukraine Faces Greater Danger From Trump Than Putin

Ukraine faces a heightened threat from its most important ally, as a potential Republican midterm defeat could spur a vengeful President Trump to prioritize a deal with Russia over Kyiv's sovereignty, leaving Ukraine expendable. Trump's recent actions, including a diesel agreement with Putin and demands to halt strikes on Russian refineries, have already pressured Kyiv, while a Democratic Congress could not override his discretion on intelligence or weapons. Analysts say Trump seeks a foreign-policy triumph and commercial deals, with Putin exploiting this to weaken Ukraine and fracture NATO unity. The Kremlin aims to manipulate Trump's initiative to break Western support, though Russia's own economic strains may push Putin toward a swift settlement. However, no peace is expected soon, as Moscow's budgets signal a prolonged war, making Ukraine's position increasingly precarious.