Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump continues to send mixed signals about his stance on Ukraine, creating uncertainty about future U.S. support for the country amid its ongoing conflict with Russia. In a recent interview with X owner Elon Musk, Trump expressed deep concern about the situation in Ukraine, stating, “there’s nobody that feels worse about the Ukraine situation than I do,” despite previously hinting at potentially reducing U.S. funding for Ukraine if re-elected.

Trump also offered praise for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, describing him as “very honorable” during their infamous 2019 phone call, which led to Trump’s first impeachment. During that call, Trump requested Zelenskyy’s help in investigating his political rival, Joe Biden, which sparked allegations of improper conduct. Trump was impeached in late 2019 but acquitted in early 2020. Zelenskyy had maintained that the call was not coerced and characterized it as “a perfect phone call.”

In contrast to his current praise, Trump had previously referred to Zelenskyy as “maybe the greatest salesman of any politician that’s ever lived,” suggesting that Ukraine’s requests for U.S. military aid were driven by Zelenskyy’s persuasive skills rather than the country’s actual needs. Trump had criticized the frequent aid requests from Ukraine, saying, “[Zelenskyy] just left four days ago with $60 billion, and he gets home, and he announces that he needs another $60 billion. It never ends.”

Trump’s ambiguous position on Ukraine’s support has become a focal point as he campaigns for a potential return to the White House. He has promised to “settle” the crisis if re-elected, though he has not detailed his strategy. This uncertainty is particularly pressing for Ukraine, which relies heavily on U.S. financial and military aid to sustain its defense against Russian aggression.

As the U.S. presidential race heats up, Ukraine faces a delicate balance between its current support from the Democratic administration and the possibility of a Trump presidency that might impose new conditions or reduce aid. Trump’s recent comments suggest he and Zelenskyy have had a “very good” conversation, with Trump promising to bring peace to the region, though specifics on how he would achieve this remain unclear. Zelenskyy has expressed openness to discussing peace strategies with Trump, aiming for a fair and lasting resolution to the conflict.

(Adapted from CNBC.com)