The ties between the United States and Ukraine are once again on a decline, especially after US President Donald Trump r ejected a bill to sanction Russian oil. Furthermore, the US President’s recent remarks against Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky have only added to the tension.
The bill, named after late South Carolina Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, targeted the flow of financial resources fueling Russia’s war and warned of 100 per cent tariffs on countries that trade with Russia, especially India and China. Since assuming office in 2025, Trump has repeatedly stated that the US has helped out Ukraine more than other countries, while bashing the members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO). This latest effort to sit down with the Russian President comes after the Alaska Summit in 2025 between Trump and Putin ended in a stalemate.
Trump also announced a deal with Moscow to import diesel fuel to curb the sharp rise in gas prices due to the ongoing war the US has waged against Iran While waiving off this sanction. This summit was also reported by the Wall Street Journal, which claimed that a trilateral meeting could take place between Trump, Xi and Putin.
Amid the strain in ties with Ukraine, Trump told reporters earlier this week that he was ready to meet with Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping to discuss denuclearisation as well as an end to the Ukraine war. Responding to this, Ukrainian foreign minister Andriy Sybiga said that such a meeting would “only encourage Putin to continue this war”. the US president now appears to be easing up on Russia and Vladimir Putin While Trump’s relationship with Zelensky has always been a moving target.
This comes after Trump decided on Friday to waive sanctions on Russia in a bill that Congress overwhelmingly passed to support Ukraine.
