Ukraine Seeks to Reduce Dependence on Trump and U.S. Support

Russian outlets present Ukraine as heavily controlled by the United States, arguing that Kyiv's talk of reducing vulnerability to US pressure only proves how dependent it has been. They stress that Washington, not Europe, remains the real decision‑maker and that any serious talks must go through the US. From this angle, Russia expects that Western divisions and US domestic politics will eventually force Ukraine to accept Russian terms.

• •Russian commentary portrays Ukraine's effort to lessen US pressure as an admission that Washington has been dictating Kyiv's decisions.
• •Moscow‑leaning sources highlight Marco Rubio's statement about US mediation to argue that Europe cannot replace Washington in talks.
• •Russian reports say Ukraine's fears of a US‑backed deal show that Kyiv does not fully control its own negotiating position.
• •Russian officials insist that any truce requires Ukraine to withdraw from Donbas, framing this as a non‑negotiable condition.
• •Russian coverage emphasizes that Moscow is ready to improve economic ties with the US if Washington stops tying trade to the Ukraine conflict.