The year 2024 was a time of complex challenges and ambiguous choices for American policy toward Ukraine. Authorizing the use of American weapons to strike military targets in Russia, discussing the prospects of Ukraine's membership in NATO, and supporting the "victory plan" - these issues became key in the interaction between Kyiv and Washington.
This was reported by the Voice of America.
Earlier this year, Ukraine faced delays in aid due to political battles in the U.S. Congress. Due to the lack of funds, President Joe Biden's new request remained unaddressed for a long time. In January, Biden invited congressional leaders to the White House to urge them to approve the aid package, but House Speaker Mike Johnson insisted on prioritizing domestic issues.
On February 13, the Senate finally passed a $95 billion bill for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan. However, the House of Representatives postponed consideration, causing outrage both in Ukraine and among its allies. It was not until April that the bill was finally passed, but the six-month hiatus had an impact on the Ukrainian front.
In the spring, Kyiv publicly called on the White House to allow the use of American weapons for cross-border strikes. After the fighting around Kharkiv escalated, the White House allowed the use of the weapons provided, but not all of them and only for cross-border strikes.
The NATO summit in Washington in July was also an important event. Although Kyiv sought an official invitation to join the alliance, the allies agreed only to create a "bridge to membership" with financial and military support.
However, U.S. domestic politics, including the presidential election, often pushed Ukraine's issues to the back burner. In the fall, after Biden withdrew from the race, his successor, Kamala Harris, met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who presented a "victory plan".
The November election was won by Donald Trump, who declared his intention to end the war in 24 hours, although he now recognizes the difficulty of such a decision. Biden's transition administration is trying to give Trump's new team all the tools it needs to support Ukraine.
In turn, 2025 could be a decisive year for American policy on the war in Ukraine.
Author: Inna Mikhno