Trump’s ‘Staggering One-Two Punch’ to Ukraine

Subscribe here: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Overcast | Pocket Casts In the past few weeks, President Trump has seemingly done an about-face in his support for Ukraine and president Volodymyr Zelensky.

The two leaders have long had a fraught relationship, to say the least, which reached a zenith in February 2025, when they got into a heated shouting match in the Oval Office.

“I’m not aligned with anyone,” Trump said at the time.

“I’m aligned with the world.

I’m aligned with Europe.” Now, four years after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Trump has struck a deal with Vladimir Putin to import Russian diesel fuel into the United States.

He’s also calling for Zelensky to be replaced, and exempting Russia from a sanctions bill passed by Congress—which Trump himself signed.

Several congressional Republicans now count themselves among the inquiring minds desperate to know: Is Ukraine the United States’ ally, or is it Russia? On today’s episode of Radio Atlantic , my colleagues Jonathan Lemire and Simon Shuster join me to discuss the conflict between the two nations and the reasons behind Trump’s realignment.

The following is a transcript of the episode: Jonathan Lemire: We are now just 15 days until Election Day.

Voters in many states are already casting their ballots and early-voting.

And it is not only seemingly un-American to side with Moscow over a European democracy, but also it’s yet another case of where Democrats can make the argument that [Donald] Trump is kowtowing to a dictator, but also is simply distracted and doesn’t have the right priorities.

Adam Harris: This is Radio Atlantic .

I’m Adam Harris, and today we need to talk about what’s happening in Ukraine, and why President Trump is choosing now to step in.

Over the last few weeks, the president has turned on Ukraine.

He struck a deal with Vladimir Putin to import Russian diesel fuel.