There has been a shift in the US's Ukraine policy in recent days. Last week, the Pentagon announced that promised arms deliveries to Ukraine would be stopped. But just a few days later, President Donald Trump announced that the US would send the arms, including air defense missiles to the Patriot system, which are vital for Ukraine's defense against Russian air attacks. Defense Minister Pete Hegseth had decided to stop the support without informing the White House, according to information to CNN.
There are at least three different lines being driven by different people in the White House when it comes to Ukraine, says military expert Joakim Paasikivi, who previously taught military strategy at the Defense University.
Trump's line seems to be to agree with the person he last spoke with.
”Disappointed with Putin”
Donald Trump has expressed frustration over what he describes as ”meaningless” peace talks with Vladimir Putin.
It is a small ray of hope for Ukraine that Trump has become disappointed with Putin and is more open to continued military support, says Joakim Paasikivi.
The chaos surrounding the US's support is expected to characterize the meetings on Ukraine held on Thursday. In connection with French President Emmanuel Macron's state visit to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, a video conference will be held outside London with several of Kyiv's partners in the EU and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyj. They will, among other things, discuss how Russia can be pressured into a ceasefire and the conditions for future European peacekeeping forces.
From Macron and Starmer, we have seen a deference to Trump when it comes to Ukraine. The question ahead of the meeting is whether we will see a clearer European line in the Ukraine issue, and which country will lead that line, says Joakim Paasikivi.
Record number of drones
Keith Kellogg, the US special envoy for Ukraine, will meet with Ukraine's Defense Minister Rustem Umerov in Rome on Thursday at the conference on Ukraine's reconstruction, which begins the same day. Also participating in the conference are President Zelenskyj, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
Several meetings between Kellogg and Umerov are planned in Kyiv over the next two weeks.
The question is whether the US's resumed support is long-term or one-time support, says Joakim Paasakivi.
Russia has significantly escalated its air attacks on Ukrainian cities during the summer. A record number of drones are overloading the air defense in order to break the Ukrainian will to defend.
It seems that there is an increased belief from the Russian side that it will pay off, given the reduced American support, says Joakim Paasikivi.
Ukraine's defense is on the agenda during French President Emmanuel Macron's state visit to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer this week.
On Thursday, Starmer and Macron will lead a video conference with several allies, including German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyj will participate via link.
On the agenda is, among other things, the issue of an international peacekeeping force in Ukraine, which can strengthen a future ceasefire.
Ukraine's defense is also being discussed at the high-level conference in Rome, which begins on Thursday. Among the participants are Volodymyr Zelenskyj, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and Giorgia Meloni.
