One year into his second term, US President Donald Trump has significantly scaled back America's support for Ukraine, a move that is coming as a blow to the war-torn nation.
The economic assistance package put in place by previous administration under President Barack Obama had been crucial in providing aid to Ukraine and was seen as a strong show of support from Washington. However, since taking office Trump has reduced the amount of aid and shifted his focus towards diplomatic efforts.
Critics say that this move is not only detrimental to Ukraine's economy but also undermines the country's ability to defend itself against Russia's ongoing invasion.
"The situation in Ukraine is complex," says a senior administration official, "but one thing is clear: we cannot afford to weaken our support for Ukraine at this critical juncture."
The economic assistance package put in place by previous administration under President Barack Obama had been crucial in providing aid to Ukraine and was seen as a strong show of support from Washington. However, since taking office Trump has reduced the amount of aid and shifted his focus towards diplomatic efforts.
Critics say that this move is not only detrimental to Ukraine's economy but also undermines the country's ability to defend itself against Russia's ongoing invasion.
"The situation in Ukraine is complex," says a senior administration official, "but one thing is clear: we cannot afford to weaken our support for Ukraine at this critical juncture."