A stark turnaround in U.S. support for Ukraine, which Donald Trump signaled after moving back into the presidency last month, became vividly clear during a televised White House sit-down Friday. Trump and Vice President JD Vance loudly berated President Volodymyr Zelensky, a democratic ally whose country has been defending itself for three years against an invasion by neighboring Russia. "You're either going to make a [cease-fire] deal or we're out," Trump told his guest. "And if we're out, you'll fight it out and I don't think it's going to be pretty." The U.S. leaders "sought to strong-arm [Zelensky] into making a peace deal on whatever terms the Americans dictate," The New York Times reported.

Before the hastily arranged visit, Trump falsely blamed Ukraine for the war Russia started in February 2022 and called Zelensky a "dictator without elections," though wartime voting is legally barred in Ukraine. At the United Nations in New York, the U.S. representative voted last week against condemning Russia for its aggression and against calling for its occupation to end. America and 17 other Moscow-friendly nations, including North Korea, were on the losing side as 93 countries voted for the symbolic resolution. "This vote is a disgrace," Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., posted on social media. "Trump's senseless betrayal of the alliances that have kept Americans safe since World War II and his fealty to the murderous aggressor [Vladimir] Putin are a national security threat."

Friday's meeting in Washington was aimed at smoothing over the rift and sealing an agreement demanded by Trump in which Ukraine would hand over billions of dollars' worth of rights to minerals used in tech products to repay U.S. military aid. Instead, Trump abruptly ended the discussion and Zelensky left without a planned joint news conference. "It was a bad day for America's foreign policy," said a Republican congressman, Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska. He's among a handful of congressional Republicans breaking political party solidarity to openly criticize Trump's approach to Ukraine.

Days earlier, an editorial in the Financial Times (a respected London newspaper) said: "America has turned." Here at home, a Times editorial called President Donald Trump's reversal "misguided, counterproductive and unfair to Ukraine. . . . Trump and his administration are pivoting U.S. foreign policy 180 degrees." There also are signals that our government may abandon its role as a European ally, which began during World War II, and switch sides to embrace President Putin of Russia. Signs that Trump could weaken or end security guarantees in place since 1945 under NATO (the North Atlantic Treaty Organization) "left many in Europe stunned and fearful," The Times reported recently, describing that prospect as "a complete reversal of historical alliances."

Earlier last month, Trump sent his secretary of state and national security adviser Mike Waltz to talk with Russian officials about ending the war. Neither Ukrainian nor European leaders were invited to that first negotiating session in Saudi Arabia. "It is clear that [Trump's] government does not care much about the fate of Europe," said Germany's next leader, Chancellor-elect Friedrich Merz. His country, France and others pledge increased aid to Ukraine.

Trump says: "Much was learned that could never be understood without conversation under such fire and pressure. It's amazing what comes out through emotion." – Friday statement after meeting

U.S. senator says: "Ukraine wants independence, free markets and rule of law. It wants to be part of the West. Russia hates us and our Western values. We should be clear that we stand for freedom." – Sen. Don Bacon, R-Neb.

Military retiree says: "This isn't just about abandoning an ally—it's about upending the post-World War II order that has kept Europe stable for nearly 80 years. If Ukraine falls, Putin won't stop there." – Alexander Vindman, former Army lieutenant colonel and National Security Council member during the first Trump administration