Ukraine prepares for Trump’s return

Could this be the year, as President-elect Donald J. Trump has promised, when Russia’s war on Ukraine ends?

The prospect of peace “brings tears to my eyes,” said Valeria, 30, an English teacher from eastern Ukraine.

As Mr. Trump prepares to return to the White House on Monday, he is promising peace in Ukraine, but not publicly offering a way to achieve it — other than his stated desire to meet with President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia. Therefore, Ukrainians can only guess what the coming months will bring.

No one, says Valeria, wants peace more than Ukrainians. But because of the huge losses, with hundreds of thousands dead and wounded, Ukrainians will not accept peace at any price, he said. He asked that his family name not be used out of fear for the safety of his father, who is still living under Russian occupation.

“Europe and America must remember that any ceasefire or negotiation will be legitimate if they respect the sacrifices of Ukrainians and guarantee a true, secure and independent future for Ukraine.” ,” he said.

Since Mr. Trump’s re-election victory in November, The New York Times has spoken to dozens of Ukrainians — former soldiers, forced to flee their homes and residents of towns far away from the war but the population is subjected to rocket attacks. hopes and fears before his inauguration.

Many people are feeling frustrated – angered by what some see as the overly cautious approach of the Biden administration, which endured months of delays in receiving US military aid last year after he was detained. in Congress. The war continues, with Ukraine facing strong opposition and relying heavily on US military support.

The Trump administration, most agree, will make a difference. But many worry that the changes will not be positive, especially without military assistance.

“Some say this is the end of Ukraine,” said Anna, 29, an artist who asked not to use her last name for fear of being harassed by Russians online. “But because I think he’s an unstable person,” she said of Mr. Trump, “I’m not sure.”

“I hope for the truth and that Russia will face the consequences for everything it has done,” he added.

On the front lines, the military often says that they are not just defending their homes, but are standing as a shield to protect the rest of Europe from the revanchist Russian regime.

Maj. Yaroslav Galas, 53, who serves in the 128th Transcarpathian Mountain Assault Brigade, said he thought Mr Trump’s desire to be seen as a winner would ultimately ensure support for Ukraine.

“Trump knows that Russia’s win and Ukraine’s loss is the United States’ loss and his own loss as president,” he said. “That’s what the world will see.”

Andrii, 44, a military officer fighting in Russia’s Kursk region, said all Ukrainians had experienced so much horror that the end of the war could not come soon.

“The war is terrifying, and it needs to end,” he said, asking not to use his last name in line with military protocol for soldiers interviewed earlier. “Maybe Trump will do something about it.”

But if Mr. Trump continues to provide military support as a way to force Kyiv to accept a bad deal, he said, it may not go as well as he hopes.

“It’s going to be bad,” he said. “It will turn into a guerrilla war.”

“We will not give up,” he said. “Many good people will die.”

Andrii was a local businessman in the city of Sumy when the Russians attacked in February 2022. He hid his four children, he said, took a gun and has rarely put it down since.

“We organized ourselves and started fighting them,” he said. “We pushed them out of the city, set up checkpoints, and they couldn’t get out. There was no government, but regular people organized and did it. “

While Ukraine’s political and social tensions have grown since the start of the war, he believes people will come together again in the event of a catastrophic collapse.

At a cemetery outside Sumy this month, a blue and gold Ukrainian flag waved one after the other in the cold air.

Kateryna Zakharuk, 25, sat next to her husband Ivan’s grave.

When his town was occupied by Russian forces in the opening days of the war, he rallied with his friends to fight behind enemy lines, setting fire to Russian ammunition depots and even taking prisoners, he said.

The Russians were driven back across the border, and Ivan joined the army. He was assassinated on February 17, 2024.

Ms. Zakharuk visits his grave every week, she said.

“My friend’s brother, who is also Ivan’s friend, is buried there,” he said pointing to the stone. “My relatives are buried there. A boy from my village is buried there. There are a lot of regular people here.”

He saw how Russian forces had destroyed entire towns, leaving nothing but ashes, and worried that Sumy would suffer the same fate without American support.

“Not only human lives are destroyed,” he said, “but all memories are also destroyed.”

Valeria, an English teacher, said her home town had been destroyed. His family is from Kreminna, in eastern Ukraine, which has been occupied by Russian forces since the beginning of the war.

His father is still there; he hadn’t seen her in years.

“I don’t know if I’ll see him again,” he said. “As ironic as it is, even though he’s alive, a part of me has said goodbye to him.”

He said he did not know what Mr. Trump would do, but hoped that “Ukraine will have the first voice in serious decisions like our future, especially in matters of war and peace.”

“Unfortunately,” he said, “there is a growing feeling that the fate of Ukrainian citizens is often discussed without our participation.”

Liubov Sholudko SY Anna Lukinova contributed to the report.