On Russia-Ukraine War

Ava Cai

April 18, 2025

A conflict that began more than 11 years ago—and escalated nearly three years ago—is now at a critical turning point. On February 24, 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine, marking the beginning of one of the most brutal conflicts that Europe has ever seen. Under President Biden, the United States provided $119.7 billion in military and humanitarian support to Ukraine from 2022 through 2024. However, following Trump’s second inauguration, America’s position has drastically shifted. 

This week, the Trump administration’s retreat from the conflict was made unmistakably clear. On Friday, April 18th, United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters before leaving a conference in Paris, “If it is not possible to end the war in Ukraine, we need to move on.” This statement addresses President Trump’s plan to pull out of the 24-hour ceasefire between the two conflicting countries if no resolution is made in the next few days, explaining that the administration has other agenda items to prioritize. 

This uncertainty raises pressing questions: Is the United States stepping away from the conflict altogether? Or is the country leaving only Ukraine itself? A handful of U.S. officials and policy experts hypothesize that the purpose of the United States pulling out of the conflict is another way of President Trump sidelining Ukraine to negotiate business deals with Russia. Others point to ongoing U.S. negotiations related to economic investments in Ukraine’s mining and resources sectors. 

In February, President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had a reportedly tense meeting in Washington, highlighting existing strains in their relationship. At the same time, statements from U.S. officials have indicated that Ukraine’s prospects for NATO membership remain uncertain, and there has been limited discussion of additional military aid packages as current supplies run low in the country. 

In addition, Vice President JD Vance, speaking in Rome on April 18, expressed optimism about the possibility of resolving, contrasting with other officials’ more cautious remarks. European leaders have also voiced their concerns about the implications of a reduced American role in the conflict, as talks with Russia have faced repeated obstacles with no agreement in sight. 

Although the United States has signaled interest in maintaining economic and diplomatic engagements in the region, its direct military and political involvement may be reassessed in the coming months. How these decisions will affect Ukraine’s defense and ongoing negotiations with Russia remains a question yet to be answered.