On March 16 local time, U.S. President Trump said: "The United States has no obligation to assist Ukraine."
He also said that Ukraine was "thousands of miles away and separated by a vast ocean."
"We didn't have to do this (assist Ukraine), but we did. Well, it was Biden who did it... Frankly, Biden was taken advantage of badly."
These few sentences from Trump contain a lot of information, with the core being an open confrontation: the U.S. wants to completely "get rid of" Ukraine as a burden.
The direct reason for Trump's move is that the U.S. military is involved in a conflict with Iran, and its ammunition reserves are running low, so it must prioritize its own needs. Looking deeper, Trump is redefining what an "ally" means: those who don't provide benefits aren't allies, but burdens. Ukraine is now seen by him as a pure burden.
At the same time, he is pressuring the EU and indirectly extending an "olive branch" to Russia. He says Ukraine is none of his business, while openly stating that Putin "hopes to reach an agreement," and Zelenskyy is the obstacle. This behavior of "shifting blame" to Ukraine and recognizing Russia's stance objectively aligns with Russia's core demand to stop military aid, paving the way for potential negotiations.
In summary, these remarks mark a shift for the U.S., from a leader in "supporting Ukraine against Russia" to a "businessman" who wants to consolidate its strength and even use Ukraine as a bargaining chip in deals with Europe. For Ukraine, this is undoubtedly a warning bell.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1859857768733708/
Statement: The article represents the views of the author.