‘I’m really scared’: Many Ukrainians fear Donald Trump’s eventual return to the White House, fearing he will reduce support and put pressure on NATO allies. Could a Trump presidency leave Eastern Europe vulnerable?
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According to polls, less than 5% of American voters consider foreign policy a priority issue, suggesting that Russia’s war against Ukraine did not play a central role in Mr Harris or Mr Trump’s campaigns. However, Republican candidate Donald Trump has promised to “end the war in 24 hours”, without giving details of how he intends to do it.
Before the final results of the American presidential election, Euronews spoke with several Ukrainians to get their thoughts on the outcome and its potential impact on their future. “I’m really scared,” Denys, a Ukrainian journalist, said in an interview with Euronews. He is not the only one. A Ukrainian woman living in Poland told Euronews that, for her, a Trump victory would feel like “the end of the world”.
Why are some Ukrainians afraid of a Trump victory?
For many Ukrainians, the idea of a Trump victory in 2024 is deeply troubling. The fear is that Trump, once in power, could withdraw U.S. military support and put pressure on NATO allies, thereby jeopardizing Eastern Europe’s security. Countries like Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, all bordering Russia, could be directly affected, says Denys. His reasoning? Mr. Trump’s unpredictable nature and populist rhetoric, including his claim to achieve “peace between Ukraine and Russia within 24 hours,” are considered dangerously simplistic and unrealistic,” he added. .
Mr. Trump’s peace plan would involve pressuring Ukraine to cedes territories or abandons its NATO aspirations. This idea aligns with previous proposals from his inner circle to create autonomous regions along a demilitarized zone and to exclude Ukraine from NATO, as the Republican vice-presidential candidate has outlined J.D. Vanceaccording to the Financial Times.
Mr. Trump’s longtime adviser also hinted at a revision of the failed Minsk accords, with European troops overseeing peace enforcement instead of NATO or U.N. troops . Additionally, while controversial, Mr. Trump believes economic pressure, such as falling oil prices, could force Russia to negotiate.
While many Ukrainians express deep fear of a Trump victory, some, like former Ukrainian Minister of Economy and current president of the Kyiv School of Economics Tymofiy Mylovanov, take a more measure. Mr. Mylovanov told Euronews that he thought Mr. Trump would win, but that a victory for Mr. Harris would be better for Ukraine, while asserting that ” Mr. Trump is not as bad for Ukraine as many think. “
He explained that the reality on the front lines and in Ukraine, Russia and Europe depended much more on the wishes of a US president, although their influence was considerable. “Whoever wins, there will be an attempt to end the war. But it will fail because Putin will deceive everyone again. The new president will eventually understand this and then we will return to strong support for Ukraine”, concludes Mr. Mylovanov.
Does Mr. Harris’ victory cause less concern?
At a recent campaign event in Michigan, Ms. Harris accused Mr. Trump of allowing Russian President Vladimir Putin to seize Kyiv if re-elected, and of pressuring Ukraine to gives up his fight against Russia. For a Ukrainian living in Poland, a Harris victory would represent a glimmer of hope, even if she does not expect miracles.
Euronews also spoke with Vlad, who serves in the Ukrainian air defense forces. “Another country’s elections decide my fate, and I have no right to vote,” he said. Although he hopes Ms. Harris wins the presidency, he fears she will continue Joe Biden’s restrictive policies toward Ukraine. Joe Biden has been criticized for his cautious approach to Russia’s massive invasion of Ukraine, particularly regarding restrictions on the Ukrainian military’s use of U.S.-supplied weapons to strike targets inside Russia.
Ukrainian journalist Denys agrees and expresses uncertainty about what to expect from Ms Harris. “I think she is expected to continue Biden’s policies. Her reluctance to fully support the delivery of long-range weapons to Ukraine raises concerns about whether essential aid will arrive on time or will suffer further delays, which will leave Ukraine vulnerable,” he explains.
Tensions are high
It goes without saying that tensions are high not only in the United States, but also in Ukraine. Another Ukrainian, who preferred to remain anonymous, told Euronews : “If they [les citoyens américains] do not take responsibility for their actions, they risk provoking a new wave of destruction and loss of life, perhaps even a third world war, which they have ignored until now. “It’s like they elected an incompetent leader who seems fascinated by people like Hitler, but in a modern form.”
The unease in Ukraine reflects broader fears about Trump’s potential influence if he is re-elected – a sentiment echoed by some of his former top advisers. John Kelly, a retired Marine general and Trump’s longest-serving chief of staff, warned that Trump met the definition of a fascist and recalled disturbing comments he made about Adolf Hitler. According to Mr. Kelly, Mr. Trump not only suggested that Hitler “did good things,” but he also expressed admiration for “Hitler’s generals,” despite Mr. Kelly’s attempts to counter those views.
As of this writing (0900 CET), the outcome of the US presidential race has not been officially announced, leaving Ukrainians and the rest of the world in a tense waiting situation.
While many are speculating about the potential outcomes, much still remains uncertain. For Ukrainians, the stakes could not be higher. Fearing a decline in their support under a Trump presidency, Ukrainians are eagerly awaiting an outcome that could have considerable influence on their fate and the geopolitical landscape as a whole.
