Trump’s Shift on Ukraine War Stuns Allies and Escalates Tensions

The U.S. president's new approach, blaming Zelenskyy and seeking rare earth payback, has left Ukraine and Europe reeling while emboldening Russia.

• President Donald Trump has reversed longstanding U.S. policy by engaging directly with Russia in peace talks without Ukraine's involvement and questioning Ukraine's NATO aspirations.
• Trump has publicly criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, calling him a 'dictator' and blaming him for the war, echoing Kremlin narratives and drawing widespread condemnation.
• The U.S. proposed a controversial repayment plan for Ukraine's aid, demanding $500 billion in rare earth minerals, which Zelenskyy dismissed as unrealistic and lacking security guarantees.
• European leaders have expressed alarm at the U.S. shift, with figures like Germany's Friedrich Merz and the EU's Kaja Kallas warning of weakened transatlantic unity and NATO credibility.
• Russia has welcomed the U.S. stance, with officials asserting Ukraine's lack of sovereignty and rejecting territorial concessions, while continuing military aggression against Ukraine.

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