Skepticism about U.S. resolve is spreading among allies. Against the backdrop of Washington's vague position, tensions in the G7, and Trump's controversial contacts with Putin, Ukraine, Israel, Britain, and Canada are demonstrating their readiness to act independently.
G7 summit in Canada: the main thing is to avoid conflict with Trump
G7 leaders gathered in Kananaskis, Canada, amid escalating tensions with the U.S. A joint final communiqué is not expected; Canada has decided to limit itself to separate conclusions of the presidency to reduce the risk of public conflict with Trump. The main topics include support for Ukraine, the war in the Middle East, critical minerals, and security.
Trump's participation is causing tension among diplomats because he has previously disrupted summits. Leaders of other countries, including President Zelensky, hope for a calm meeting with Trump, given the lack of a clear American position on further support for Ukraine. Meanwhile, Ottawa maintains a firm pro-Ukrainian position.
Putin and Trump discussed Ukraine - the Kremlin says it is ready for new negotiations
Putin held his fifth telephone conversation with Trump since the beginning of his presidency, proposing to resume negotiations with Ukraine after June 22. Moscow presents this as a sign of readiness for dialogue, but the Ukrainian side has not yet confirmed its participation in the new round. The talks took place against the backdrop of the ongoing exchange of prisoners and bodies of the dead.
Trump's rhetoric on the conflict is causing concern in Kyiv and among allies. Zelensky has publicly criticized the overly "warm" tone of U.S. dialogue with Moscow and has warned against a "symmetrical" attitude toward the aggressor and the victim. The Kremlin's statements illustrate Moscow's attempt to position itself as an equal partner in the peace process despite its refusal.
The Pentagon has acknowledged that some anti-drone systems intended for Ukraine have been redirected to the Middle East
Secretary of Defense Pete Gagset ultimately, that some of the systems were redirected to the Middle East. This is in an effort to protect American troops amid the escalation between Israel and Iran. This is the first official comment on the shift in military aid priorities.
Hagerty's explanation has caused concern among Ukraine's supporters. Zelensky has repeatedly stressed that such redistribution of resources slows aid to Kyiv and could signal to Moscow that the West is "tired." Meanwhile, although the US has not announced a change in its overall policy of supporting Ukraine, its actions suggest a growing discrepancy between its words and actions.
Starmer: Trump wants peace, but Putin is stalling
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer admitted, that Donald Trump is demonstrating a sincere desire to achieve peace in Ukraine. However, according to Starmer, Putin is deliberately prolonging the process and avoiding real agreements. Starmer warned that if Moscow refuses to agree to an unconditional ceasefire, there will be consequences.
Starmer expressed support for sanctions against Russia and said that London expects a "lasting peace" rather than a fictitious agreement. Starmer also mentioned the coalition of willing countries that Britain is forming with France and stressed the need for U.S. participation to ensure regional security. Thus, Britain is demonstrating a tough stance toward Moscow while supporting Washington's dialogue efforts.
Hodges: Ukraine and Israel no longer trust the United States
Former US Army commander in Europe Ben Hodges said, that the actions of Ukraine and Israel indicate a loss of trust in the United States. Specifically, neither country informed the U.S. administration before conducting military operations on enemy territory: Ukraine before the “Spider” attack and Israel before the strikes on Iran. According to Hodges, this indicates a lack of trust in the current administration and Trump's team.
Hodges also drew attention to Russia's inaction when it did not support Iran during the escalation despite receiving military aid from Iran. Hodges called Russia an “unreliable ally” and expressed regret that Washington is not interested in changing the Kremlin regime. He did not rule out the possibility of the US withdrawing its troops from Europe, though this is unlikely to happen this year.
Author: Danylo Pievchev