**US President Trump Criticizes Ukrainian Leader**
Donald Trump, the US president, has criticized Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraine’s leader. Trump called Zelensky a “dictator” and said he was corrupt.
This is not the first time Trump has spoken out against Zelensky. In 2019, Trump was impeached for withholding arms shipments to Ukraine in an attempt to pressure Zelensky into investigating Trump’s Democratic rival, Joe Biden.
**Trump Echoes Russia’s Views on War**
Trump’s latest comments echo Russia’s views on the war in Ukraine. Last week, Trump had a phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Now, Trump is saying that Ukraine started the war, not Russia.
Russia’s ambassador to the UK praised Trump’s approach, saying it was a change from the US simply dismissing Russia’s claims as propaganda.
**Trump Seeks to Reduce US Military Commitments**
Trump wants to reduce US military commitments in Europe and focus on containing China instead. He believes that supporting Ukraine is not important for American interests.
Some Republican senators disagree with Trump’s views on Zelensky and Ukraine, but they don’t seem to be doing much to change Trump’s policies.
**A Shift in US Foreign Policy**
This shift in US foreign policy is a long time coming, according to analysts. Trump has been moving towards this view for years.
His “America First” priorities mean that he wants to focus on American interests and not get involved in conflicts abroad. This approach is different from previous Republican presidents like George W Bush, who were more interventionist.
**What’s Next?**
The future of US policy on Ukraine and Russia will depend on Trump’s continued leadership and his ability to shape the Republican Party‘s views on these issues.