Chloe Edwards, Photography Editor

Two Ukrainian students and Yale history professor Marci Shore expressed their fears about what a Trump-Vance administration could mean for Ukraine, as the Russia-Ukraine war nears its third year. 

With President-elect Donald Trump’s election, Ukraine could lose the support of the United States as Trump has repeatedly criticized the amount of aid that Ukraine gets from the U.S. and has blamed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for starting the war with Russia. Yet, after Trump’s victory, Zelenskyy congratulated Trump and praised Trump’s “peace through strength” approach.

Christina Logvynyuk ’25, a Ukrainian American student, worried about what Trump’s posture toward Russia might mean for Ukraine and the U.S.

“Trump’s kind of perverse fascination with Putin and with dictators in general is concerning overall, but more specifically, I think this is where U.S. domestic and foreign interests cross over, because there is a lot of media manipulation and disinformation happening from Russian actors within the U.S.,” said Logvynyuk. 

She described her main concern being what kind of immediate pressures will be put on Ukraine to end the war and cited Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance LAW ’13 stating that they will end the war by any means necessary even if that means “frozen conflict.” 

She also felt concerned about long term security guarantees that may be made by the U.S. in order to pressure Ukraine into concessions. She added that historically, security guarantees made by the U.S. to Ukraine have not held up in the long term.

“Ukrainians have been fighting for three years now of active conflict,” said Logvynyuk. “Remembering that these are people is crucial in making any sort of compromises.” 

Shore echoed Logvynyuk’s fears about Trump’s relationship with Putin and his concern for human lives in his decision making. 

“Trump has no principles apart from his own self-aggrandizement. All relationships are transactional for him. No one else’s life has any meaning for him,” wrote Shore.

Yevheniia Podurets ’26, who serves on the executive board of Ukraine House, was disturbed by  statements from the Trump-Vance campaign but still feels that what will happen with the war is “quite unpredictable.” 

“I’m waiting out to see what’s actually going to happen. I wouldn’t call it quits just yet, but there has been a lot of grounds for concern,” said Podurets. 

Podurets added that she is concerned by Trump’s call for a fast ceasefire, worrying that Trump might pressure Ukraine to surrender territories which are occupied by Russia.

Logvynyuk mentioned that it is tough to be hopeful but she still sees some hope. 

“Historically, the Republican Party, the more moderate portion of the Republican Party, has always been very supportive of the Ukrainian cause, and so I hope that these voices are not drowned out by the more radical members of the party, and I hope that they stay the course, because lives really do depend on it,” said Logvynyuk. 

Shore also mentioned that she hopes to see Biden do everything he can to help Ukraine before Trump is inaugurated.

“My desperate hope now is that Biden in his remaining time immediately lifts the weapons restrictions and gives Ukraine everything possible to help Ukraine defeat Russia before January 21st,” wrote Shore. 

The Russia-Ukraine war began in February 2022.