Trump's Arms U-Turn Won't Stop Kyiv's Slide Toward Crisis
What happened?
Following his disappointing call with Putin, President Trump reversed the recent halt in arms funding and announced that more weapons would be sent to Ukraine. The initial pause in weapons deliveries occurred at a pivotal moment in the war between Russia and Ukraine, as Moscow escalated its aerial campaign by launching increasingly heavy airstrikes on Kyiv, including 539 drones and 28 rockets overnight. Meanwhile, BlackRock suspended development talks on a multibillion-dollar Ukraine recovery fund, ending nearly three years of work and confirming deep private-sector hesitation.
Source: Getty Images
Why does this matter?
Token aid, sinking frontline: Trump's stopgap shipment will only cover about ten days of Ukrainian artillery consumption. Meanwhile, Russian forces are exploiting the pause, making steady gains in Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia.
Private capital exit: BlackRock's withdrawal underscores investor anxiety, reducing the private funding pipeline and increasing reliance on dwindling public aid.
Political fragility: Kyiv's economy minister, who is responsible for the BlackRock failure and missing SME grants, is reportedly favored for promotion—a move that could further erode donor trust and hinder reforms.
What's next?
Battleground pressure is intensifying across Sumy, Pokrovsk, and Zaporizhzhia. Analysts predict deeper Russian incursions as Ukrainian supply shortages worsen. Zelenskyy must make a consequential decision: stand by his loyal economy minister, whose “Netflix-over-reform” reputation and repeated missteps risk alienating Western partners, or appoint a technocrat capable of restoring credibility.
finformant view
Without a sustained rearmament plan and clear economic stewardship, battlefield losses and financial withdrawal will reinforce each other. Ukraine's near-term fate hinges on reasserting governance competence as much as military resilience, providing Western donors with renewed reasons to support Ukraine—or to withdraw.