Europeans are still wary of Trump's promises to Ukraine despite apparent U-turn on Putin

Trump's pledge of Patriot missiles to Ukraine and tariffs for Russia leaves some Europeans wary

President Donald Trump’s increasing turn against his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin has inspired hopes in Ukraine and among its supporters that he is starting to believe what they’ve been telling him all along: Moscow is the antagonist and the only way to stop it is with cash and military equipment.

But while Monday’s apparent U-turn was dramatic, other Ukraine supporters, former officials and other foreign policy experts are wary at least and deeply skeptical at worst.

“The question that Europeans and Ukrainians are asking,” according to Ivo Daalder, former United States ambassador to NATO, is “how real is this change? And how lasting is this change? And what does it really mean in terms of American policy toward the region?”

“This is the second time that the Trump administration has moved the goal posts,” having briefly cut off aid to Ukraine in February, he said. “So there are a lot of questions here.”

President Donald Trump meets with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, left, in the Oval Office on Monday.Kevin Dietsch / Getty ImagesTrump has previously lavished praise on Putin while scorning Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. But on Monday in the Oval Office, sitting next to NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, he said he was “very unhappy” with the Kremlin and that the United States would sell “top-of-the-line weapons” to NATO allies — including the much-demanded Patriot missiles — so that they can be used in Ukraine.