Why every call with Putin changes Trump’s Ukraine policy

The Kyiv Independent’s Tim Zadorozhnyy speaks with former U.S. Ambassador Steven Pifer about the recent U-turn in U.S. President Donald Trump’s policy on Ukraine following a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Pifer says that Trump can still end Russia’s war if he starts using leverage on Moscow but argues that, regardless, Ukraine and Europe should assume they will have to manage the conflict without U.S. support.

Tim Zadorozhnyy

Reporter

Tim Zadorozhnyy is a reporter at The Kyiv Independent, covering foreign policy, U.S.-Ukraine relations, and political developments across Europe and Russia. Based in Warsaw, he is pursuing studies in International Relations and European Studies. Tim began his career at a local television channel in Odesa, working there for two years from the start of Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine. After relocating to Warsaw, he spent a year and a half at the Belarusian opposition media outlet NEXTA, initially as a news anchor and later as managing editor.