Trump spent $1B upgrading his private jet.
Next year, Ukraine will receive only $800M in U.S. military aid—less than the plane refit.
Tim Mak and Adrian Karatnycky told The Atlantic: this is the clearest sign of U.S. abandonment.
Ukraine won’t surrender - but the cost is rising.
1/
Next year, Ukraine will receive only $800M in U.S. military aid—less than the plane refit.
Tim Mak and Adrian Karatnycky told The Atlantic: this is the clearest sign of U.S. abandonment.
Ukraine won’t surrender - but the cost is rising.
1/
In July, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth unilaterally paused shipments of ammo to Ukraine.
That same week, Kyiv suffered one of the largest Russian strikes since 2022:
31 killed, 160 injured in a single night.
2/
That same week, Kyiv suffered one of the largest Russian strikes since 2022:
31 killed, 160 injured in a single night.
2/
Under Biden, the U.S. sent $33B worth of weapons to Ukraine (Feb 2022–Jan 2025).
Under Trump, Senate Republicans propose just $800M for 2026.
Meanwhile, $1B in U.S. taxpayer money goes to retrofit Trump’s Qatari gift jet.
3/
Under Trump, Senate Republicans propose just $800M for 2026.
Meanwhile, $1B in U.S. taxpayer money goes to retrofit Trump’s Qatari gift jet.
3/
On July 22, Zelensky signed a law subordinating anti-corruption agencies to his office.
It triggered nationwide protests—rare during wartime.
By August, he rescinded the change.
Mak: Ukrainians won’t let wartime power grabs kill democracy.
4/
It triggered nationwide protests—rare during wartime.
By August, he rescinded the change.
Mak: Ukrainians won’t let wartime power grabs kill democracy.
4/
Karatnycky: Zelensky believes only he can defeat corruption. But his circle fears a repeat of 2019—when independent investigators cost Poroshenko reelection. This was about power, not just reform.
5/
5/
Mak: This war isn’t about any one leader. It’s about the right to live without Russian domination or domestic authoritarianism. Protesting is core to Ukrainian identity. They overthrew Yanukovych. They won’t tolerate backsliding now.
6/
6/
Ukraine is outgunned, outmanned, and under constant attack.
Russian drones buzz over cities nightly.
Explosions shake Kyiv.
Mak: Delays in air-defense aid aren’t just political—they’re deadly.
7/
Russian drones buzz over cities nightly.
Explosions shake Kyiv.
Mak: Delays in air-defense aid aren’t just political—they’re deadly.
7/
Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff gave Russia a 50-day window for ceasefire talks.
Frum: That’s not strategy—it’s stalling. Ukraine gets bombs. Moscow gets deadlines.
Meanwhile, Trump’s rhetoric has shifted—but the policies haven’t.
8/
Frum: That’s not strategy—it’s stalling. Ukraine gets bombs. Moscow gets deadlines.
Meanwhile, Trump’s rhetoric has shifted—but the policies haven’t.
8/
Europe has filled some of the funding gap.
Karatnycky: EU nations are ramping up weapons production and co-investing in Ukrainian drones and missiles. They also hold $250B in frozen Russian assets. That’s Ukraine’s survival fund.
9/
Karatnycky: EU nations are ramping up weapons production and co-investing in Ukrainian drones and missiles. They also hold $250B in frozen Russian assets. That’s Ukraine’s survival fund.
9/
Mak: Ukraine invented new drone tactics and deep-strike operations like ‘Spiderweb’—taking out Russian bombers far behind the front. But winning isn’t about tech. It’s about manpower, ammo, and holding the line.
10/
10/
Frum: What if Trump forces Ukraine to negotiate on Russian terms?
Mak: No chance. Ukrainians would fight with forks before surrendering. No politician here would survive a deal that legitimizes occupation.
11/
Mak: No chance. Ukrainians would fight with forks before surrendering. No politician here would survive a deal that legitimizes occupation.
11/
Mak: Ukrainians follow U.S. politics more closely than Americans. They share J.D. Vance memes. They know Senate vote margins. Not because it’s entertainment—because it’s life and death.
Karatnycky: They’re done waiting. They’ll fight alone if they must.
12X
Karatnycky: They’re done waiting. They’ll fight alone if they must.
12X
Source: theatlantic.com/podcasts/archi…
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