Geoff Bennett:
Today’s commemorations come as the U.S. under President Donald Trump has decisively changed its stance on the war. It’s sparked deep concern across Europe and beyond, as the president has sought to deflect blame from Russia for its invasion and criticize the Ukrainians and their European allies.
On the ground in Kyiv today, more than a dozen Western leaders marked the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion. Notably not present was a representative from the U.S. It was a symbol of a dramatic shift in U.S. policy since President Trump took office again.
Mr. Trump has promised to end the war, but has so far largely left Ukraine out of the negotiations. That’s after last week calling Ukraine’s president a dictator while leaving the fate of continued U.S. funding for Kyiv in question and refusing to blame Russia for the war.
Today, President Trump was in Washington with one of America’s closest European allies, French President Emmanuel Macron. The two met virtually with leaders of the world’s seven largest economies to discuss the war. Some of those leaders were in the room with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who appealed directly to Mr. Trump.
Read More: Ukraine marks 3 years since start of Russia’s invasion as Trump’s stance raises